Abstract: A non-contact support platform system is provided for supporting a substantially flat object. The system includes a platform with a first plurality of pressure ports and a first plurality of vacuum ports for inducing a fluid cushion to support the object at a distance from the platform. The system further includes a second plurality of pressure ports located at a predetermined zone of the platform for increasing the distance of the object from the platform at the predetermined zone.

Abstract: Printed products (10) are conveyed to a transfer portion (22) by means of the grippers (14) of the gripper conveyor (12). The vacuum belt conveyor (26) suctions with its active strand (28) the respective end region (32) of the printed products (10), after which, close to the end of the (34) of the transfer portion (22), the grippers (14) respectively release the printed products (10). The motional path (38) of the gripper jaws (16) runs in the transfer portion (22) in the shape of an arc. The active strand (28) of the vacuum belt conveyor (26) runs in the transfer portion (22) at an approximately constant distance to the motional path (38). In the case of large processing capacities and correspondingly high velocities, a reliably secure, positionally stable transfer of the printed products (10) from the gripper conveyor (12) to the vacuum belt conveyor (26) is thereby ensured.

Abstract: A sheet transportation apparatus includes at least one beltless vacuum transport (BVT) that has a plurality of adjacent rollers. Each of the rollers comprises a rounded external surface and an axis about which the external surface rotates. The external surfaces of the rollers are spaced from each other by gaps referred to as “inter-roller spaces.” A fan is positioned on a first side of the rollers. The fan draws air through the inter-roller spaces to create a vacuum force on a second side of the rollers. The vacuum force maintains the sheets of media in contact with the second side of the rollers. The external surface of each of the rollers comprises a plurality of first regions having a first diameter and a plurality of second regions having a second diameter different than the first diameter. The first regions and the second regions of the external surface are adjacent one another and alternate along the length of the external surface of each of the rollers.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting a sheet of media through a print zone including a media entrance station, a media exit station and a first media transport translatable in a reciprocal manner between the entrance and exit stations. A second media transport transports a sheet onto and off of the first media transport. The second media transport transports the sheet in a first direction as the first media transport is moving in a second opposite direction.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms a toner image on a sheet; a fixing section that fixes the toner image on the sheet; a sheet conveyance path that branches into a first sheet conveyance path and a second sheet conveyance path downstream of the fixing section; a blowing section that guides the sheet to the first sheet conveyance path or to the second sheet conveyance path by blowing air to the sheet; and a controller that controls the blowing air of the blowing section.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is formed of a transfer unit and an image reading unit. The transfer unit includes a transfer belt disposed along a contact glass held vertically for transferring a document or photograph to a reading position; a first suction portion for allowing the photograph to be sucked onto the belt; and a second suction portion for sucking the photograph at an upstream side of the first suction portion in a transfer direction. The first and second suction portions hold the photograph at a reading position apart from the contact glass by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An individualization and transport device for blanks has a vacuum feeder with an endless belt circulating in a timed drive cycle in a transport direction. The endless belt of the vacuum feeder has an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion. An individualizer is arranged upstream of the vacuum feeder and feeds individual blanks from a stack of blanks onto the lower belt portion of the vacuum feeder at a first transport speed. A continuously moving carrier is arranged downstream of the vacuum feeder and has a second transport speed that is greater than the first transport speed. The endless belt moves at a third transport speed that is synchronized with the second transport speed of the carrier at the moment of transfer of the blank onto the continuously moving carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conveyance of sheets, in which said sheets are advanced or slowed down in such a manner that a distance is altered. A value of said change in distance can be preselected.