Abstract: An apparatus for feeding products, such as cards and product samples to a further processing point is disclosed. The apparatus has a magazine device which has at least two magazine compartments and a conveying device having successive grippers which travel over the magazine device. During a certain time period, a transporting member corresponding to one of the magazine compartments is activated so that it feeds products contained in the compartment one after another to the grippers as the grippers travel over the compartment. At a desired point in time, the active transporting member is deactivated and a transporting member corresponding to another magazine compartment is activated in order that uninterrupted operation is provided. While the subsequent magazine compartment is in operation, the previously active compartment can be moved from its working position and resupplied with products.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding products, such as cards and product samples to a further processing point is disclosed. The apparatus has a magazine device which has at least two magazine compartments and a conveying device having successive grippers which travel over the magazine device. During a certain time period, a transporting member corresponding to one of the magazine compartments is activated so that it feeds products contained in the compartment one after another to the grippers as the grippers travel over the compartment. At a desired point in time, the active transporting member is deactivated and a transporting member corresponding to another magazine compartment is activated in order that uninterrupted operation is provided. While the subsequent magazine compartment is in operation, the previously active compartment can be moved from its working position and resupplied with products.

Abstract: In a sheet gripper for a sheet-processing machine, a swingable gripper arm has at one of its ends a gripper tip which can be pressed against an abutment and, at its other end, a spring section which is bent back towards the gripper tip in the manner of a bent leaf spring and connects the gripper arm to a gripper shaft. The gripper arm is of substantially inflexible construction. The bent-back spring section and the gripper tip lie on opposite sides of a plane which extends substantially perpendicular to the gripper arm and radially of the gripper shaft. The bent-back end of the spring section forms an attachment arm which rests, with a contact surface adapted to the curvature of the gripper shaft, on the side of the gripper shaft facing the gripper arm and is releasably attached to the gripper shaft by means of a screw.

Abstract: Device for sheet-format adjustment of a sheet-transfer drum formed of sheet-holding segments displaceable in guides radially and in a rotational direction of the sheet-transfer drum, and having gripper devices for holding leading and trailing edges of sheets, the gripper devices being adjustable with respect to one another in an outer cylindrical surface of the sheet-transfer drum in the rotational direction thereof, the sheet-holding segments and the gripper devices being simultaneously adjustable for two sheets to be transported, includes guide discs disposed on both sides of the sheet-transfer drum and fixedly connected to a shaft of the sheet-transfer drum, the guide discs being formed with radial guide slots extending parallel to one another, and at least one guide element connected to a sheet-holding segment and being seated in each of the guide slots, and a respective control disc disposed on each side of the sheet-transfer drum and rotatable on the shaft of the sheet-transfer drum, the control disc be

Abstract: A color video printer for producing a full-colored image on a dye-absorbing receiver sheet by thermally transferring three different colored dyes of Y, M and C applied to a ribbon in response to video signals.

Abstract: The invented sheet media marking system provides a platen which is configured to rotate a sheet of medium about a marker so as to accommodate marking of the sheet. The platen preferably takes the form of a rotatable drum, the interior of which supports the sheet at a predetermined distance from the printhead which is suspended within the drum. A printhead support is used to hold the printhead in a fixed rotational orientation relative to the platen's axis of rotation, each rotation passing the sheet across the printhead for marking thereof in a swath of print. The sheet is advanced using a medium advancing mechanism which directs movement of the sheet along the interior surface of the drum.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus for performing printing on leading and trailing edges of the printing paper without leaving a margin. Printing begins when the leading edge of the printing paper is at an initial location of the printing. At this time, the leading edge of the printing paper is sequentially pressed from side to side by a print head.

Abstract: A printer accurately controls the passage of print media therethrough and maintains the print media taut as the print media passes through a printing zone while the media is printed by an ink jet printer. The print media sheet is preferably carried by a rotating drum in a first direction through the printing zone, with the drum being reversed to cause the exiting of the print media sheet from the printer. A pressure fixing or fusing apparatus may be positioned to flatten ink spots on the print media as the print media exits from the printer. The pressure fixing or fusing mechanism is preferably used in the case of a hot-melt or phase-change ink jet printer.

Abstract: A rotary sheet-fed printing press for recto and verso printing has a turning drum disposed between impression cylinders having double the diameter of a conventional blanket cylinder, wherein a sheet gripped at a leading edge thereof by grippers of a first one of the impression cylinders is gripped at a trailing edge thereof by grippers of the turning drum upon transfer of the sheet to the turning drum. In the turning drum, suction nozzles are provided which suck the sheet, guided on the one impression cylinder, towards the turning drum in the vicinity of the trailing edge of the sheet and, in so doing, smooth it diagonally and peripherally on the circumference of the one impression cylinder, before the grippers of the turning drum which grip the sheet by the trailing edge thereof are closed, and the grippers of the one impression cylinder which grip the sheet by the leading edge thereof are opened.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing paper products from a stack on a hopper comprises a rotatably mounted gripper drum for rotating about a central axis at a substantially constant angular velocity. A stationary cam is rigidly mounted adjacent the gripper drum. A gripper mechanism is mounted on the gripper drum and rotates with the drum. The gripper mechanism is provided for gripping a paper product, removing the paper product from a stack and for entraining the paper product with the rotating gripper drum. A linkage mechanism which is also mounted on the gripper drum and which rotates with the drum is provided for angularly displacing the gripper mechanism relative to the gripper drum, i.e. to accelerate and to decelerate the gripper, and for operatively linking the gripper mechanim with the cam.

Abstract: A process for the formation of a scale-like stream of folded printed copies wherein the printed copies are delivered directly to claws from a folding jaw cylinder and are transported onward while being held by the claws. An apparatus for the formation of a scale-like stream of folded printed copies possesses a traction device--for example a toothed belt--by means of which the printed copies are transported onward from a folding jaw cylinder. The traction device is provided with claws for accepting and holding the printed copies in a grasping manner during transportation.

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 sheet-guiding assembly in a sheet delivery system of a sheet-fed printing press includes a plurality of sheet grippers disposed on at least one endlessly revolving chain of a first gripper system for gripping a leading edge of a sheet, and a plurality of after-grippers disposed on at least one endlessly revolving chain of a second gripper system for gripping a trailing edge of the sheet, the sheet delivery system being extended in length and defining a horizontal transport path for the sheet therethrough, the first and second gripper systems being disposed so as to be adjustable in phase with respect to one another at the extended sheet delivery system, the sheet grippers and the after-grippers being attached to the first and the second gripper systems, respectively, for holding the sheet by the leading and trailing edges thereof, respectively, on the horizontal transport path of the sheet over the length of the sheet delivery system.

Abstract: In order to make it unnecessary to shift a finishing machine (12) out of a position adjacent to a printing or copying machine (10) the invention provides a transfer device for sets of sheets leaving the printing or copying machine (10) for the set finishing machine (12). The printing or copying machine (10) comprises a door (14) with an ejection opening for the sets and the said finishing machine (12) possesses an inlet side opposite such opening, such door (14) opening toward the inlet side of the finishing machine (12).

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering sheet-like products to a device for processing printed products comprising a conveying device for transporting the products, a rotating transfer conveyor for receiving the products from the conveying device, at least one controllable clamp located on the transfer conveyer and capable of swiveling during rotation of the transfer conveyor and a processing device for receiving the products from the transfer conveyor and printing.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the release point of the timing of a gripper release in a sheet delivery of a sheet-processing machine, such as a printing machine, is disclosed. A gripper system is driven along a given travel path. The gripper system has gripper fingers for clamping a paper sheet, entraining the paper sheet along the given travel path and releasing the paper sheet at a predetermined position. A landing body with a cam surface is disposed at a stationary support structure and it is operatively associated with a member for releasing the paper sheet which travels with the grippers. The landing body is shiftable on a displacement track for the purpose of adjusting the timing of the paper release. The displacement track has a shape which is adapted to a geometric course of the given travel path of the gripper system.

Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus for a sheet-fed rotary press with a reversing mechanism includes a paper convey cylinder, gaps, a reversing mechanism, a paper holding unit, a gripper moving unit, and a gripper pad moving unit. The gripper moving unit moves the gripper member of the paper holding unit from the gap to an outer surface of the paper convey cylinder in accordance with a pivotal movement of the paper convey cylinder. The gripper pad moving unit moves, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the paper convey cylinder, the gripper pad member of the paper holding unit between an operating position and a retreat position.

Abstract: An arrangement for the step-by-step conveyance of printed products, such as, newspapers, magazines or the like from a removal location, wherein the printed products are supplied to the removal location by a conveying unit approximately vertically and spaced apart from each other. The arrangement includes at least one set of gripping tongs for gripping the lower ends of the printed products at the removal location. The gripping tongs are connected to a driven hub. The gripping tongs are retractably controlled by the periphery of the hub which interacts with a friction wheel arranged after the removal location. The gripping tongs extend through a space which is arranged downstream and is provided for the controlled release of the printed products. The space is defined by conveying members which are driven in the same direction.

Abstract: Device for conveying sheets from a printing press to a sheet pile includes revolving endless conveyor members looped about at least two rotating members having respective horizontal axes of rotation disposed parallel to one another, mechanical grippers carried by the endless conveyor members for gripping only respective leading edges of sheets, the endless conveyor members having a respective upper side moving along a conveying path in a given conveying direction for carrying thereon sheets conveyable away from the printing press, and a device disposed in the conveying path for smoothing the sheet, the smoothing device being cyclically movable reciprocatingly in a direction perpendicular to the given conveying direction of the sheets.

Abstract: Device for sheet-format adjustment of a sheet-transfer drum, formed of sheet-holding elements displaceable in guides in a rotational direction of the sheet-transfer drum and having at least two gripper devices for holding sheet leading and trailing edges, the gripper devices being adjustable relative to one another in an outer cylindrical surface of the sheet-transfer drum in the rotational direction thereof, the sheet-holding elements and the gripper devices being simultaneously adjustable for sheets to be transported on the sheet-transfer drum, includes resilient elements connected to adjacent sheet-holding elements on both sides of the sheet-transfer drum, the resilient elements having substantially identical spring constants.

Abstract: A pregripper configuration in a sheet-fed rotary printing press feeds single sheets to a rotating cylinder. A cam drive includes a main cam and a roller lever which pivots about a frame-fixed shaft. A lever mechanism, which is articulated to the roller lever and a pregripper pivot arm, transmits the motion of the cam-following roller lever to the pivot arm. The pivot arm is also pivoted about a frame-fixed shaft. In order to compensate for play in the lever mechanism, a pretensioned spring is disposed between an attachment point on the roller lever and an attachment point on the pivot arm. In one embodiment, the pretensioned spring extends approximately parallel to a rigid link connected in articulated fashion between the roller lever and the pivot arm. In another embodiment, the spring is attached to a compensating cam drive.

Abstract: A gripper assembly is provided for use within a printing press having an impression cylinder and one or more printing stations. The gripper assembly includes a main shaft, gripper clamp arms mounted to the shaft, and gripper blocks mounted to the shaft in alternating sequence with the gripper clamp arms. Each of the gripper blocks includes a projection overlying a portion of the adjoining gripper clamp arm. A spring is positioned between each projection and adjoining gripper clamp arm for urging the gripper blocks about the axis of the shaft. A gripper is mounted to each of the gripper blocks. Each gripper has a generally flat, Z-shaped body, one end of which is adapted for engaging a sheet of paper. The main shaft is coupled to a cam follower for causing rotation of the main shaft, thereby opening or closing the set of grippers.

Abstract: A gripper includes two gripper parts. The first gripper part is arranged pivotably relative to the other, second gripper part. The two gripper parts interact to securely hold a printed product at the free ends of the gripper parts. The first gripper part is mounted by a ball joint in a bearing part, which is seated unrotatably on a rotatably mounted hollow shaft. A compression spring is mounted in the first gripper part between the bearing part and the first gripper part, which is spherically mounted in the latter. The compression spring in the closed position of the bearing part exerts a compressive force on the first gripper part. The ball joint is offset rearwards with respect to the pivot axis of the bearing part. As a result, a rearward lengthening of the leg of the first gripper part is attained. This results in more favorable leverages and, with a given compression spring, accordingly results in higher clamping forces at the free end of the first gripper part.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping the leading edge portion of a sheet includes a first gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet. The apparatus further includes a spring having a portion thereof defining a second gripping member which substantially spans the leading edge portion of the sheet, the second gripping member being urged toward the first gripping member to grip the sheet.

Abstract: Gripper control for sheet grippers on a sheet-guiding cylinder or the like in a printing press, wherein a stationary pressure generator for a pressure medium is connected by means of a coupling, through the intermediary of a motor-actuated servo-valve, to a sheet-gripper actuating system disposed on the cylinder or the like and, through a control system, being acted upon by the pressure medium in time with an operating cycle of the printing press, includes a piston-cylinder unit forming part of the actuating system, a displacement-measuring system connected to the piston-cylinder unit, respective elements for pivotally connecting the piston-cylinder unit, at one end thereof, to the sheet-guiding cylinder or the like and, at the other end thereof, to a lever connected to the sheet gripper, the control system including a programmable control computer connected by measuring lines to the displacement-measuring system and, via a position-control loop, being capable of controlling a motor-actuated positioning of th

Abstract: Sheet gripper device on a paper-guiding cylinder of a sheet-fed printing press includes a sheet gripper formed of a leaf spring and having a gripper tip located at an end thereof, a gripper pad engageable by the gripper tip, a control shaft for the gripper tip, the control shaft being actuatable so as to swivel about a longitudinal axis thereof, the leaf spring having another end opposite the end thereof whereon the gripper tip is located and being fastened by the other end thereof on the cylinder, an adjustable thrust member and means for holding the thrust member, the holding means being mounted on the control shaft so as to be fixed against rotation relative thereto, the thrust member being effective against the leaf spring during a swiveling movement of the control shaft in a closing direction of the sheet gripper; and the sheet gripper per se.

Abstract: A gripper for use in a conveying device which conveys printed products is disclosed. The gripper has two gripper parts which are mounted so as to be freely pivotable on a shaft. The first gripper part can be pivoted between an open position and a clamping position. This purpose is served by a closing lever which is seated on the shaft so as to be fixed against rotation. The rotary movement of the shaft is transmitted via a resting part, which is connected to said shaft so as to be fixed against rotation, and a compression spring which is supported on the resting part and, at the other end, acts on the first gripper part. The closing lever supports a follower roller which is mounted so as to be freely rotatable and interacts with closing links or cams. A locking device is provided for locking the first gripper part in the clamping position.

Abstract: A delivery machine of a folder unit including endless transfer means disposed to pass in close proximity to a downstream side of a discharge portion of a folding machine for discharging, one-by-one, folded paper sheets while passing around guide wheels driven in synchronism with the operation of the folding machine. The delivery machine also includes an openable/closable folded paper sheet holding device sequentially disposed on the endless transfer means with predetermined gaps between them. A folded paper sheet holding operation device brings the folded paper sheet holding device at least from an open state to a closed state in close proximity to the downstream side of the discharge portion of the folding machine so as to allow them to hold one-by-one the folded paper sheets discharged sequentially from the discharge portion of the folding machine.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for clamping articles comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member pivotal relative to the first clamp member. An actuator pivots the second clamp member relative to the first clamp member from an open position into a closed position. A coil spring is compressed when the second clamp member is in the open position. A pin engaging in a slot maintains the coil spring in the compressed condition when the second clamp member is in the open position. A releasable locking device holds the second clamp member in a closed position. The locking device includes a latch that can be mounted in one of two positions on the first clamp member. The latch is biased into engagement with one of two latch blocks, depending on the position of the latch, to hold the second clamp member in the closed position.

Abstract: The device comprises a conveyor chain (1) for the sheets to be checked (3) by a detector (5). The support bars (4, 4'), on which the sheet to be examined (3) slides, are fitted, in the checking zone, with suction nozzles (4a) and in the gap between two support bars (4) there are provided movable arms (10), fitted at their end with suction nozzles (10a) which, in the operating position, are aligned with the suction nozzles (4a) of the support bars and arranged in the sheet transfer plane in order to hold the sheet to be examined (3) in this plane. In order to prevent the clamps (2a) which pull the sheet (3) from touching the arms (10), a mechansim is provided for tilting the arms (10) when the clamps (2a) pass above these arms.

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: An apparatus for transporting sheet-like products includes a belt conveyor with a flexible conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven in a conveying direction at a conveying speed. A takeover conveyor has individually controllable clamps which are arranged one behind the other on a carrying member. The clamps are driven in a rotating direction, and the clamp mouths are directed in the takeover region forward in rotating direction. The products fed to the takeover region are in each case pressed against the conveyor belt by a pressing roller at the free end of the first clamping jaw of the clamp. Since the clamp speed of the clamps is greater than the conveying speed, the following clamp thus catches up with the held product and seizes it at the trailing edge.

Abstract: Swivelling pre-gripper of a sheet-fed printing press having a sheet feeding table includes a swivel arm; a gripper carried by the swivel arm; a mutually cooperating roller lever and cam mechanism for, respectively, opening and closing the gripper; a device for cyclically swivelling the swivel arm of the pre-gripper to and away from the sheet feeding table; a device for cyclically opening and closing the gripper; a device for setting an instant of opening of the gripper for releasing a sheet gripped by the gripper in a closed condition thereof to a downline conveying device for accepting and transporting the released sheet; a device for setting, in a manner decoupled from the setting of the instant of opening, an instant of closing the gripper for gripping the sheet fed from the feeding table to the pre-gripper; one of the devices for setting the instant of opening and for setting the instant of closing of the gripper being disposed on the roller lever; and the other of the devices for setting the instant of c

Abstract: Gripper apparatus on a sheet-processing machine includes a pair of cooperative gripper members, a control device including a computer for controlling the pair of gripper members, at least one data transmitter connected to the computer for inputting data therein, and at least one mechanism for performing at least one function selected from a group thereof consisting of opening and closing the pair of gripper members in response to an output of the computer, the function-performing mechanism being operatable at predetermined positions of the sheet-processing machine.

Abstract: An assembly including a holding bar disposed transversely to a sheet-conveying direction in a paper sheet-processing machine, includes a device on the holding bar for holding paper sheets; a device for guiding the holding bar in individual, laterally spaced-apart guiding planes and through at least one direction-changing region located outside the guiding planes; a device for transporting the holding bar; and, in the at least one direction-changing region outside the guiding planes, a connectible device for stiffening the holding bar; and a method of guiding and transporting the holding bar.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum gear having a first guide slot and a cam, a clamp having a first interlocking pin inserted into the first guide slot and a cam pin is interlocked with the cam. A release lever is mounted on a support plate on which a shaft of a drum is supported. A lifter having one end with a second guide slot formed therein is coupled to the first interlocking pin. The other end of the lifter has a second interlocking pin interlocked with the release lever. The apparatus can shorten the overall printing time by reducing the additional time required for ejecting a sheet of paper because the clamp is operated in cooperation with rotation of the drum during a printing operation.

Abstract: A sheet material handling apparatus having a rotatable drum and clamps for holding the sheet material on the drum during high speed rotation. The clamps are arranged to rely on centrifugal force as the primary operational clamping force during the high speed rotation. One clamp is eccentrically mounted on a pivot axis with a greater mass on a segment of the clamp adapted to pivot away from the drum surface during high speed rotation. A second clamp is contacted by a slidable counterweight mounted on the drum opposite the central rotation axis of the drum from the second clamp such centrifugal force of the counterweight enhances clamping of the sheet material to the drum surface.

Abstract: A document transport system for transporting and selectively recirculating relatively large documents through a processing station. In accordance with this invention, a transport is provided which has a defined endless document path. A gripper bar is provided for selectively and releasably securing the leading edge of large documents, and a driven chain is also provided for supporting and moving the gripper bar at a predetermined imaging speed through an imaging station. Further, drive rollers are provided proximate the imaging station to urge documents in the document path through the imaging station at the predetermined imaging speed. The invention also includes control apparatus for halting the gripper bar at a first position downstream from the processing station to enable release of documents from the gripper bar and at a second position upstream from the processing station to enable selective insertion and retention of documents in the gripper bar.

Abstract: In order to enable a gripper carried by a rapid moving gripper conveyor to be opened and therewith release an object gripped by the gripper, for instance a newspaper, without influencing neighboring grippers, the gripper is opened (45', 47) while moving along a path which is shorter than the distance (t) at which the grippers are spaced on the gripper chain (1) and the opened gripper is held open by means (4, 45') which only act on the thus opened gripper. The means which holds the gripper open accompanies the movement of the gripper conveyor. The method and the arrangement find use in conveyors that are provided with self-closing grippers where the conveyors have a high conveying capacity and enable independent release of individual objects. An opened gripper is held open while the gripper moves through a distance which is greater than the gripper spacing interval and which is sufficiently long to ensure that the object will fall free from the gripper.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus for laminating a material such as paper stock. Once the paper stock is laminated an image is transferred to the laminated paper stock. A flexure plate is provided to maintain the paper stock or the laminated paper stock free of creases or wrinkles. The image transferred to the laminated paper stock appears as if the image had been printed on said paper stock.

Abstract: Gripper control device in a chain delivery of a sheet-fed printing press, wherein a cam segment has a control cam for a control roller provided on a gripper system and is adjustably disposed for opening a gripper of the gripper system as a sheet is delivered, the control cam being formed with a rectilinear on-running region aligned for rectilinear movement of the control roller in a given direction, includes an adjusting element operatively engageable with the cam segment for effecting a phase displacement of the gripper between a closed and an open condition thereof, the control cam of the cam segment, in an inactive basic position thereof, being aligned, with the on-running region thereof parallel to the given direction of rectilinear movement of the control roller for the gripper system, in an imaginary plane tangent to the control roller at a location on the circumference thereof most distal from the gripper of the gripper system, and a cam roller rotatably mounted on the cam segment, the adjusting elemen

Abstract: A gripper bar conveyor mechanism for transferring sheets to be printed from one rotating impression cylinder to another in a multiple color rotary offset printer of the type having sets of impression cylinders and corresponding blanket cylinders for rolling contact with the sheets to be printed therebetween. The gripper bar conveyor mechanism includes a transferrable gripper bar activatable for releasably securing sheets to be printed in a fixed orientation with respect to the transferrable gripper bar. The registration projection is affixed to the transferrable gripper bar. A registration pocket is adjustably affixed to each of the impression cylinders for temporarily receiving the registration projection of the gripper bar and thereby holding the gripper bar in a desired position with respect to the impression cylinder. A conveyor band is attached to the gripper bar and is operably connected to the rotary offset press for moving the gripper bar from one impression cylinder to the next.

Abstract: A ball bearing in a conveyor device for sheets includes ball guide bodies having ball guide openings formed therein. Balls are to be disposed in the openings. The ball guide bodies have lateral contact slits formed therein through which the balls can be removed and replaced through the ball guide openings by contact with the balls from the outside.

Abstract: An existing sheet material feeder has a feed tray which holds sheet material in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally vertical. An apparatus is provided to convert the sheet material feeder to one having a feed tray which holds sheet material in a lying-down orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally horizontal. The apparatus for converting the on-edge sheet material feeder to the lying-down sheet material feeders includes a frame having a pair of parallel side sections. A single sheet material feed drum is disposed between and is connected with the side sections. The side sections are connected with side sections of the existing collator conveyor sheet material feeder.

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

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus for transporting document sheets, wherein passive gripper gates, of simplified construction, selectively attach a sheet to the transport belt of the sheet transporting apparatus. The sheet transporting apparatus comprises a transport belt having a passive mechanism for selectively clamping a document sheet thereto. The transport belt is moved along a path, and a sheet is delivered into association with the passive clamping mechanism. The passive clamping mechanism is selectively actuated to clamp a sheet delivered into association therewith to the transport belt for movement with the transport belt. A mechanism, located downstream in direction of movement of the transport belt, selectively deactuates the passive clamping mechanism to release a sheet from the clamping mechanism of the transport belt. Thereafter, the sheet is separated from the transport belt.

Abstract: A print drum and associated clamping assembly is provided for use in printing or similar operations. The print drum is characterized by uniform thermal characteristics and is constructed from a material having thermal diffusivity of greater than about 1.3.times.10.sup.-5 m.sup.2 /sec. The print drum may moreover have a highly reflective surface that permits optical sensors to distinguish between the drum and substrate surfaces. Clamping sections of a substrate clamp assembly project through slots provided in the print drum and are raised and lowered to release and clamp a substrate respectively. Other constituents of the clamp assembly are mounted in the hollow interior of the print drum. The print drum and associated clamping mechanism is especially suitable for use in ink jet printing apparatus utilizing thermal phase change inks.

Abstract: An electric or electronic sheet control device is provided at a sheet-transferring cylinder of a printing machine. According to the state of the art, in order to detect a leading edge of a sheet, two detecting elements respectively detect the presence of a sheet and a misaligned sheet. According to the invention, two detecting elements are disposed in such a way that they detect at least the outer areas of a leading edge of a sheet and at least one further detecting element is provided between the two detecting elements, which makes it possible to detect whether or not the leading edge of the sheet is straight.

Abstract: To receive, store and deliver printed products in minimum space, with a device which can, itself, be stored in minimum space when free of products, a steel tape or ribbon (1, 21) is formed with U-shaped cuts (7) to define, within the ribbon, tongues (5, 22). The tape or ribbon is guided in a curved path, typically about a guide roller (4, 23), which causes the tongues to flare out tangentially. When in flared or projecting position, products (8, 33) can be pushed in the space between the extended tongues and the remainder of the tape or ribbon material which, upon then being guided in an essentially linear path, will cause the tongues to close and grip the products, whereupon the tape or ribbon with the products, thereon can be rolled into a storage roll.