Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compliant conveyance system including a diverter having at least one sidewall structure defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with a pressure source. The sidewall structure includes a compliant interface surface for conveying sheet material along the feed path and a plurality of orifices effecting fluid communication between the compliant interface surface and the internal chamber. A means is provided for developing a pressure differential across the sheet material through the orifices to urge an interface surface of the sheet material against the compliant interface surface of the diverter such that the compliant interface surface conforms to the sheet material interface surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for successively conveying a series of sheets are disclosed. The apparatus has a first conveyer for conveying a sheet in a sheet conveying direction at a first speed and a second conveyer disposed spaced vertically away from the first conveyer for conveying the sheet in the same direction at a second speed. The second conveyer has a region overlapping with the first conveyer at least for a distance corresponding to a dimension of the sheet, e.g. the width of veneer sheet, as measured in the sheet conveying direction. A suction mechanism is disposed in said overlapping region for transferring by suction the sheet in the entirety of its dimension from the first conveyer to the second conveyer and holding by suction the sheet against the second conveyer. The sheet is further moved by the second conveyer, e.g. to a sheet stacking station.

Abstract: There is described a paper sheet conveyance apparatus, which makes it possible to surely separate the overlapping paper sheets from each other irrespective of a kind of paper. The apparatus includes: a thickness detecting section to detect a thickness of a paper sheet, currently conveyed in the conveyance path; a first suction device to adsorb the conveyance paper sheet currently passing through the first suction device; a second suction device to adsorb the overlap paper sheet currently passing through the second suction device; an overlapping conveyance path that is branched from the conveyance path; and a control section that activates the first suction device and the second suction device so as to separate the conveyance paper sheet from the overlap paper sheet, and to introduce the conveyance paper sheet and the overlap paper sheet into the conveyance path and the overlapping conveyance path, respectively.

Abstract: A sortation bin module having a conveyor and diverter module for pneumatically securing, releasing and diverting selected mailpieces to a bank of sortation bins. The conveyor module includes a conveyor surface for transporting sheet material along the feed path and a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the conveyor surface to hold the sheet material on the conveyor surface during transport. The diverter module includes a diverter surface for sorting sheet material from the conveyor surface, i.e., diverting sheet material from the feed path. The diverter module, furthermore, includes a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the diverter surface to hold the sheet material on the diverter surface during sortation. The conveyor and diverter surfaces are also arranged such that the surfaces oppose each other to define a transfer interface.

Abstract: In a separator for separating a stripping sheet from a composite film formed by a base sheet and the stripping sheet which are superposed with each other, the composite film is first so carried and arranged that its forward end portion extends over a separating clearance formed in a support, and then a blade is pushed into the separating clearance for thrusting the composite film into the separating clearance in a bent state. Thus, the forward end portion of the composite film is separated (i.e., delaminated). Thereafter the base sheet and the stripping sheet are independently sucked/held on the delaminated forward end portion, and the stripping sheet is completely separated from the base sheet while widening the space between the held positions of these sheets. Due to the aforementioned structure and operation, the composite film can be separated in a simple structure with minimum force, and the separator can be reduced in size and power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying gas to a vacuum drum device and which substantially reduces or eliminates the problem of particle and debris buildup in the vacuum passages of the device is provided. The apparatus supplies gas, preferably at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, to the vacuum ports of a vacuum drum and includes a source of vacuum, a source of gas, and a rotatable vacuum drum. The drum includes a plurality of vacuum ports on the surface thereof, with the vacuum ports communicating with a plurality of vacuum passages extending generally outwardly from the interior of the drum. A valve alternately connects the passages to the vacuum source and to the source of gas. The selective exposure of the vacuum ports to either a source of vacuum or a source of gas prevents smoke, particles, and other contaminants from being drawn into the vacuum passages of the drum during operation of the system.

Abstract: A feed table for a sheet processing machine, includes a double-sheet detector, and a device controllable by the detector for separating out double sheets, respectively, supplied to the feed table together with sheets to be printed, the device including first and second rotatable members for applying suction simultaneously to a sheet to be processed and to a double sheet, respectively, the first and second rotatable members being disposed on opposite sides of a sheet travel plane in which a sheet stream is conveyed, and a sheet guide disposed adjacent the sheet travel plane on the side thereof on which the first rotatable member is located, the first rotatable member being rotatable for guiding the sheet to be processed along the sheet guide and for conveying the sheet to be processed with the sheet stream.

Abstract: A high speed product delivery system is provided which delivers individual flexible web products from a product drum to a plurality of 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 packaging devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating doublets includes a device in which opposed surfaces that are connected to a vacuum source have a rippled portion in which vacuum slots are positioned at the apex of the ripples. There is a gradual transition in the surface of the slots from a planar portion to a rippled portion and back to a planar portion. The two surfaces are spaced a predetermined distance from each other such that when a double sheet of paper is driven through the rippled area, both the upper sheet and the lower sheet can tack to the upper and lower slots without having to jump across a gap. Subsequently, as the two sheets move into the area of the surfaces where there are no ripples, a strong separating force is generated as each sheet remains attached to the respective vacuum slots since the upper and lower slots are not in the same plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating moving superposed fabric layers includes structure defining upper and lower spaced-apart, opposed surfaces between which the superposed fabric layers are conveyed. Provision is made for directing jets of gaseous fluid along the surfaces generally in the direction of movement of the superposed fabric layers. Portions of the surfaces diverge away from the layers and from the direction in which the jets are moving, and are located downstream of the locations from which the jets issue. As a result, a vacuum is created between the superposed fabric layers and the upper and lower surfaces adjacent the diverging portions thereof causing the layers to separate. Because of their direction, the jets also impart a forward force on the separated fabric layers generally in the direction of movement of the fabric preventing the fabric from flapping, curling or bunching up between the plates during separation.

Abstract: An article transport arrangement for conveying articles along a pair of generally parallel transport paths from a first location to a second location includes a pair of vacuum belt conveyors which extend between the first and second locations, generally above the transport paths. A vacuum arrangement for applying a suction force to the articles in excess of that applied to the articles by the vacuum belt conveyors is positioned opposite the vacuum belt conveyors so as to ingest articles through a pair of collection openings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding sheet shaped blanks to an article. The blanks are extracted from a magazine by a blank conveyor at a first point, and, occasionally, more than one blank is erroneously extracted. To ensure that only one blank is conveyed to the article, all but one blank are removed at a second point. In the preferred embodiment, the blank or blanks is or are in such a fashion so as to permit a suction conveyor belt to detach all but one blank from the blank conveyor. Once detached, the erroneously extracted blanks are removed via air suction, and the remaining blank is conveyed to the article at a third point.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as in a copying machine, by which an original sheet and a light-sensitive sheet can be fed along separate feed paths toward and onto one another and then one upon another through a station for exposure of the light-sensitive sheet to a light image of the original sheet is provided with a control system, including a separating device disposed to act on the sheets passing from the exposure station, whereby after an exposure the original sheet can be led away from the light-sensitive sheet irrespective of the relative position of the sheets fed for the exposure. A detector sensing the leading edge of an original sheet in its own feed path, activates the control system which in turn puts the separating device into operation after the lapse of a period of time corresponding to the time of transport of the leading edge of the original sheet from the detector up to the separating device.

Abstract: An overlapped document detector for a document handling apparatus comprises an air knife in the primary document path to separate overlapped documents and forward them along separate ones of two secondary paths. Optical detectors focused on each secondary path, detects documents to detect an overlapped condition. A vacuum is created to maintain the documents in their respective secondary paths for detection purposes.

Abstract: Overlapping sheet articles on a first suction conveyor are intermittently diverted in groups by a lowerable second suction conveyor having a direction-changing roller which can be intermittently applied to the first conveyor and moved along therewith at the same speed and then returned.