Abstract: A paper sheet take-out apparatus comprises a paper feed table on which paper sheets are placed as a stack, a take-out rotor which absorbs and takes out the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper feed table, and a positioning mechanism which positions the uppermost paper sheet with respect to the take-out rotor by causing an absorption block to absorb the paper sheet before taking out the uppermost paper sheet.

Abstract: A rotatable pneumatic feeding head having a vacuum shoe with apertures for picking up an envelope from an envelope stack by negative air pressure. The feeding head has an outer cylinder with holes communicating with the apertures, and an inner cylinder with cutout regions operatively connected to a vacuum pump. The inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are rotated independently of each other such that when they are aligned, a negative pressure is created at the apertures through the cutout regions and the holes. When the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are out of alignment, the negative pressure is cut off from the apertures. The vacuum shoe is removable so that it can be repaired or replaced when it is damaged or worn.

Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery device for the sections of a strip of film that are fed in a direction of conveyance, especially in a bead welding machine, comprising a rotor (40) that is driven and rotated around an axis (40) lying parallel thereto on the plane of conveyance with several contact areas that extend radially towards the axis of rotation (40) and which grasp successively fed strip sections in an operational mode, deflect said strip sections from the plane of conveyance and deliver them to a delivery station, whereby each respective contact area (10) of the rotor comprises suction areas (12) that can be subjected to an underpressure to hold said strip sections on the contact areas (10) when the contact areas (10) of the rotor move through the segment of a circle (14) between a first and a second position of rotation (16 or 18). In order to achieve trouble-free delivery of said strip sections, the angle of the circle segment (14) can be adjusted within limits.

Abstract: An improved singulation mechanism is provided for flat articles having significant variations in size, thickness and weight, which mechanism utilizes at least two vacuum chambers positioned behind a moving perforated to feed the articles and selectively controls at least one of pressure and flow for at least one of the chambers to facilitate the feeding of heavier articles, while inhibiting bleed through doubles for lighter articles. A mechanism may be provided which provides a puff of air to at least one of the chambers at the end of the operation thereof to reduce the feeding of doubles and a bent fence may be suitably positioned to both facilitate feeding of shorter articles and to facilitate proper initial alignment of the articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the presentation of articles to the singulation head of a system for singulating a stack of edge-mounted articles, for example mixed mail, which mechanism senses the instantaneous pressure at which the lead article of the stack is pressed against the singulation head. A feedback control may be provided responsive to a difference between detected instantaneous pressure and a desired target pressure for controlling at least one drive member in a manner so as to reduce such difference. Where there is a pick window of instantaneous pressure at which singulation can be effectively performed, a control may also be provided to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous pressure is outside the pick window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding envelopes in an envelope insertion machine, wherein a rotatable pneumatic feeding head is used to pick up an envelope from an envelope stack by a negative air pressure. The pneumatic feeding head is also used to move the envelope to a pair of take away rollers so that the envelope picked up by the feeding head can be moved further away from the envelope stack. It is preferred that the feeding head includes an outer cylinder having a row of vacuum ports and an inner cylinder having a plurality of apertures for air passage operatively connected to a vacuum pump. The inner cylinder is independently rotatable relative to the outer cylinder so that the negative air pressure is provided to the vacuum ports when the apertures of the inner cylinder are aligned with the vacuum ports, and the negative air pressure is turned off from the vacuum parts when the apertures and the vacuum ports are out of alignment.

Abstract: A singulation mechanism is provided for use in a handling system for mail or other substantially flat articles, the mechanism having a singulation head with a drive mechanism which, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, initially moves an article pressed thereagainst with high acceleration, interrupts the drive to the article for a brief instant and then moves the article again at high acceleration, a take-away mechanism removing the article exiting the head. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, movement at a high acceleration is imparted to the article pressed against the singulation head only when the head is energized and substantially no movement in imparted when the head is not energized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating flexible flat objects from the top of a stack. The objects are lifted upward from the stack one at a time and separated therefrom by progressive adhesive action starting from the trailing end of the object in a transport direction. Once lifted by the adhesion device, the objects are transported in the transport direction by the transport device. The adhesion device may be magnetic for magnetizable articles or may be a suction device. Various techniques for moving suction and/or adhesion progressively along the object to be lifted in the transport direction are disclosed, including progressive application of suction, suction chamber arrangements for accomplishing that and the use of blown air to create a vacuum condition for lifting the sheets. The transport device might comprise a belt for moving the lifted objects. The transport of one object may be occurring while the next object is being lifted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for singling flat material to be conveyed having a suction device, with openings in the suction device defining an area within which the suction device grasps the material to be singled. Known singling devices have in particular the disadvantage that operation of the suction device produces a high noise level which is felt to be very unpleasant. The present invention provides a shifted arrangement of the suction openings which leads at least to partial elimination of the noise during shifted activation of the suction openings.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine operating in cycles, inter alia a shaping press, during which a cyclic excess air pressure is produced in a covered part of the machine, where the covered part has an opening (6) on the perimeter of which a diaphragm is fixed, the diaphragm being made of an elastic material which is substantially impermeable and resistant to the oil lubricating the machine (9).

Abstract: A system for regulating the vacuum hold pressure in a printer based upon the physical characteristics of the print media that is directed through the printer. In one embodiment, the characteristic of a sheet of media is detected before or as the sheet reaches the carrier. The vacuum pressure level is thus regulated in response to the physical characteristic of the sheet, thereby to have applied to that particular media a level of vacuum pressure that prevents problems that arise when pressure levels are too low (for example, inadvertent shifting of the paper) or too high (for example, paper deformations that reduce print quality).

Abstract: A mechanism for manifolding a vacuum force to separate surface sectors of a vacuum holddown uses subsurface ducting to apply the vacuum to separate subsurface vacuum plenums wherein each is fluidically coupled to a separate surface sectors. The plenum is segregated by a diaphragm into surface side and vacuum side cavities. Trigger ports and appropriate ducting through the holddown subjacent the surface associated with each sector determine how the vacuum is routed. Only when a trigger port is covered is the vacuum routed to the surface sector associated therewith. The system can be implemented in planar or curvilinear constructs and be provided with features to accommodate a near-continuous range of flexible material sizes. A specific implementation in an ink-jet hard copy apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating flexible flat objects from the top of a stack. The objects are lifted upward from the stack one at a time and separated therefrom by progressive adhesive action starting from the trailing end of the object in a transport direction. Once lifted by the adhesion device, the objects are transported in the transport direction by the transport device. The adhesion device may be magnetic for magnetizable articles or may be a suction device. Various techniques for moving suction and/or adhesion progressively along the object to be lifted in the transport direction are disclosed, including progressive application of suction, suction chamber arrangements for accomplishing that and the use of blown air to create a vacuum condition for lifting the sheets. The transport device might comprise a belt for moving the lifted objects. The transport of one object may be occurring while the next object is being lifted.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets from a sheet stack, having a feed deck for supporting the sheet stack and a pair of spaced apart parallel guide rails on the feed deck for receiving the sheet stack between the guide rails. A sheet feeding assembly is mounted in proximity to a sheet feeding end of the feed deck and is operative to feed individual lowermost sheets from the sheet stack, the sheet feeding assembly including a continuously rotating feed drum having an inner and outer circumference and a plurality of suction openings and a vacuum assembly received in the inner circumference of the feed drum and having at least one rotating cylinder coupled to a vacuum source and movable between an actuated position for drawing air downward through the portion of the feed drum extending above the planar surface of the feed deck and a default position preventing the drawing of air through the feed drum when a vacuum is applied to the at least one rotating cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a carrier portion, a suction belt, a servo motor, a blower, a solenoid valve, a pressure sensor, a position sensor, a belt hole sensor, and a controller. The carrier portion feeds a plurality of sheets of different sizes in a direction of their thickness in an upright state. The suction belt has a belt hole for drawing each sheet fed from the carrier portion by suction, so as to feed out each sheet drawn by suction with the belt hole. The servo motor drives the suction belt. The blower generates a pressure for drawing the sheet by suction in the belt hole. The solenoid valve enables/disconnects supply of the negative pressure from the blower to the belt hole. The pressure sensor measures a pressure in the belt hole. The position sensor detects the sheet fed out by the suction belt. The belt hole sensor detects the belt hole after the sheet is fed out.

Abstract: A leading edge of a leading blank in a series of overlapping envelope blanks is fed at a preselected speed into contact with a rotatably mounted backing roller. The backing roller is mounted in a frame and is selectively adjustable between a first position and a second position. A rotatably mounted segment roller is positioned opposite the backing roller. A pull-out segment is a secured to a radial portion of the backing roller. A plurality of longitudinal slots are provided in the surface of the pull-out segment and are selectively connected to a source of negative pressure. The segment roller is driven at a preselected speed greater than the speed of the series of overlapping blank. In a first mode of operation, the backing roller is adjusted to a first position in the frame so that upon rotation, the pull-out segment frictionally engages the leading edge of the leading blank, separating it from the series of overlapping blanks.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and transferring flat unit loads such as newspapers, periodicals and other publications is disclosed. The apparatus has a means for accepting a stack of unit loads and for offering the unit loads one-by-one at a fetching position. A drum is arranged rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has a perimeter surface adjacent the fetching position. The drum has at least one suction opening formed in the perimeter surface for seizing the next available unit load from the stack at the fetching position and for holding the unit load to the drum perimeter surface as the drum rotates to an ejection position. A conveyor means is disposed adjacent the ejection position for receiving the separated unit load from the drum and for transporting the unit load away. The apparatus is also suitable for separating and transferring unpackaged newspapers, periodicals, other publications and the like.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling feeding in a bottom vacuum corrugation feeder when sheets with curl are encountered includes a timer and a sensor for detecting the negative pressure level in a vacuum plenum of the vacuum feeder. The vacuum pressure sensor gives a signal proportional to the degree of vacuum behind feeder belt holes that are in communication with the vacuum plenum. The vacuum pressure sensor is used to measure the instantaneous level of vacuum in the plenum, as well as, to detect the point at which sheet acquisition has occurred. The sensor is interrogated at predetermined intervals during the acquisition portion of the feed cycle. At each interval, the current pressure level detected in the vacuum plenum by the vacuum pressure sensor is compared to a reference value for that interval.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating the topmost sheet from a stack of sheets with a suction belt conveyor disposed a short distance above the stack. The suction belt conveyor includes a suction box around which an endless suction belt is trained. In one corner the suction box has a lower resistance to air flow than in the rest of the suction box in order to unroll the top-most sheet by sucking it against the suction box. The lower resistance to air flow is obtained by disposing except in the said corner a plate at a short distance above the perforated base of the suction box. Near the corner of the suction box air is forced against the side of the stack in order to assist the unrolling suction operation. The suction belt is provided with peripheral ribs which deform the applied sheet in order to assist separation.

Abstract: For each displaceable closing member (19) for controlling and scaling sheet layers (2, 2'), the pneumatic control (17) has in a control surface (26) two control openings (23), between which is formed an additional sliding surface (40) for the graphite closing member (19). Individual closing members (20) are used for the constant position fixing of the control (17) and, facing the openings (23, 24), the closing members (19, 20) slide on a sieve (19), so that limited fault susceptibility occurs at high working speeds.

Abstract: An automatic document conveying device comprises a document table on which documents are placed; a vacuum separating/feeding means for feeding the set documents placed on the document table; a set document stopper for positioning the front ends of the documents placed on the document table; and a discharged document stopper for restraining the movement of the document discharged onto the set documents after being fed by the vacuum feeding means and subjected to image processing. A first opening and a second opening are provided in the document table. The vacuum separating/feeding means is disposed below the first opening. A feed drum connected to the vacuum chamber of the vacuum separating/feeding means via an opening/closing means is disposed below the second opening.

Abstract: A vacuum corrugation feeder used to feed a wide variety of sheet sizes and stocks includes a variable ratio feedhead plenum. Included within vacuum plenum is an adjustable shutter apparatus that includes a foam roller mounted for rotation on shaft. A shutter member in the form of a plastic sheet is connected to the foam roller and can be wrapped and unwrapped around the foam roller by rotation of knob that is connected to the shaft depending on whether the vacuum pressure is to be high or low. The foam roller is mounted above a plenum plate of the vacuum plenum such that rotation of the knob in a clockwise direction causes the shutter to unwrap from the foam roller and partially cover vacuum holes in the plenum plate and thereby decrease the amount of negative pressure from the vacuum plenum that reaches sheets being fed.

Abstract: A sheet feed assembly for feeding sheets from a stack comprises a vacuum feed device which is movable to feed a sheet from the stack in the feed direction while the sheet is held on the feed device under vacuum. A sheet holding device is spaced from the vacuum feed device adjacent the stack in use for selectively preventing sheets from being fed from the stack. A control device coupled to the vacuum feed device and to the sheet holding device selectively supplies a vacuum to the vacuum feed device to cause the device to feed a sheet and, at substantially the same time, to deactivate the sheet holding device so as to allow a single sheet to be fed by the vacuum feed device.

Abstract: A device whereby sheets can be discharged one by one from the bottom of a stack of sheets provided in a holder having a base support and side supports wherein in the transverse direction of sheet transport the base support surface has a downward bent shape so that the support surface has a deepened part on its supporting side such that in the proximity of the deepened part, beneath at least an edge zone of one side of a stack of sheets to be accommodated, the support surface is provided with at least one opening in which a vacuum can be created so that the bottom sheet is sucked against the support and air is blown against the side of the stack as considered with respect to the direction of sheet transport, in order to create an air layer at least between the bottom sheet and the stack thereabove, the airflow being ejected in the proximity of the deepened part of the support surface.

Abstract: A sheet feed assembly for feeding sheets from a stack comprises a vacuum feed device which is movable to feed a sheet from the stack in the feed direction while the sheet is held on the feed device under vacuum. A sheet holding device is spaced from the vacuum feed device adjacent the stack in use for selectively preventing sheets from being fed from the stack. A control device coupled to the vacuum feed device and to the sheet holding device selectively supplies a vacuum to the vacuum feed device to cause the device to feed a sheet and, at substantially the same time, to deactivate the sheet holding device so as to allow a single sheet to be fed by the vacuum feed device.

Abstract: A duplex copying machine that includes an automatic document feeder and a sheet feeder for conveying sheets, which each have an original image copied on one surface, toward a photoreceptor. The sheet feeder blows air on the leading end of the lowermost sheet out of a plurality of sheets set on a sheet tray by way of an air blowing fan to separate the lowermost sheet from the sheets above the lowermost sheet. The amount of air blown by the air blowing fan in situations where the automatic document feeder is not used and the sheets (each having an original image copied on one surface) are being successively stacked on the sheet tray is made smaller than the larger amount of air used in the situation where the sheets are being conveyed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting a plurality of sheets, a first sheet absorb unit arranged facing a sheet surface of the sheet stack supported by the sheet support for absorbing the sheet by air suction, a second sheet absorb unit arranged facing a tip end of the sheet stack in a sheet supply direction for absorbing the sheet by air suction and a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the first and second sheet absorb units. The first sheet absorb unit and the second sheet absorb unit are respectively disposed at positions where the first sheet absorb unit is substantially parallel to the sheet surface and the second sheet absorb unit is inclined relative to the sheet surface. When a sheet stops a feeding unit operates in response to return the sheet to the sheet stack as the sheet is being absorbed by the first sheet absorb unit.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder with optimized performance for a large variation in sheet sizes is obtained by adjusting the vacuum port area of a vacuum chamber simply by the action of adjusting the paper guides in the paper tray for different sheet sizes.

Abstract: An unstacking apparatus including a first suction nozzle (7) and a second suction nozzle (8) that are disposed on one side of an alignment plate (3), a perforated endless belt (6) continuously advancing past the suction nozzles and the free face of the first item in a stack of items, a passage forming an outlet between the alignment plate and the belt, at least one sensor (17, 18, 19) disposed on the other side of the alignment plate, and a microcomputer (10) for actuating one of the nozzles in an unstacking cycle. A microcomputer is organized so as to detect that a first item in the stack is backwardly misaligned by monitoring the operation of one of the suction nozzles during the unstacking cycle, and so as to trigger a realignment cycle in response to such detection, during which realignment cycle the nozzles are actuated alternately.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets from a sheet tray which minimizes mis-feeds and multi-feeds. The device includes a device detecting sheet properties such as sheet basis weight and sheet size, a device selecting appropriate air parameters, such as air plenum pressure, plenum flow, and air knife pressure based on the sheet properties detected, and a device adjusting air parameters based on the appropriate air parameters selected.

Abstract: In order to avoid disruption of a stack of signatures, particularly when a cyclically operable signature feeding apparatus is temporarily disabled, the utilization of a unique latch arrangement is contemplated. The feeding apparatus will generally include a driven rotary drum having a plurality of signature grippers disposed about the periphery thereof. The signature grippers are adapted to grip signatures seriatim upon receipt from a signature supply hopper. A suction assembly is driven by a cam for shifting signatures seriatim from the signature supply hopper to the rotary drum for gripping by the signature grippers. The suction assembly includes oscillating suction grippers together with a vacuum control valve. The signature feeding apparatus further includes a cam follower operatively associated with the suction assembly to control movement of the oscillating suction grippers and operation of the vacuum control valve.

Abstract: A paper feed device and method for separating sheets of paper one by one from the bottom of a stack of paper loaded on a paper loading tray and for feeding the separated paper sheets consecutively. The feed device includes a rotatable hollow cylinder having a peripheral surface positioned below and close to the front end of the paper loading tray in the direction of paper sheet feed, and having an opening for drawing a paper sheet against the peripheral surface by vacuum suction. The vacuum suction is variable to set the suction pressure at the low level at the start of a paper sheet feed operation by the cylinder means, and if, after the predetermined time interval, the passage of the paper sheet is not detected, the vacuum suction pressure is increased to a higher level and maintained at the higher level to feed successive paper sheets. A paper sheet front end sensor, a conveyor, and a timer for setting a predetermined time interval after the start of a paper sheet operation, are also provided.

Abstract: When stacking up recording papers on a tray and conveying one by one from the top or bottom, they are conveyed by attracting in vacuum to a conveying belt. An example of conveying from the bottom is illustrated. When one recording paper is conveyed, its rear end comes into the attraction region of the conveying belt, and the second recording paper is attracted into the region out of the first recording paper in the attraction region, which results in duplicate feed. Therefore, the size of the attraction region is variable depending on the size of the recording paper so that the attraction region of the conveying belt may not come out from the rear end of the recording paper until the first recording paper is conveyed and its front end is held by the rear rollers of the conveying belt or the like.

Abstract: An improved cut sheet feeder for feeding cut sheets separately one by one, comprising a sheet feeding and conveying device for contacting the obverse side of a first sheet to move the first sheet forwardly by frictional force, an arresting device for contacting the reverse side of a next sheet to arrest forward movement of the next sheet, the frictional force applied by the sheet feeding and conveying device being larger than the frictional force applied by the arresting device. The improved cut sheet feeder comprises a suction device operatively associated with the sheet feeding and conveying device for sucking the first sheet to increase the frictional force between the first sheet and the sheet feeding and conveying device. In a modified embodiment, a suction device may be operatively associated with the arresting device rather than being operatively associated with the sheet feeding and conveying device.

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 paper refeeding device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for temporarily stacking paper sheets each coming out of an image forming section and carrying an image on one side on a refeed tray and, then, refeeding the paper sheets to the image forming section. An air velocity switching mechanism causes an air knife to blow air at a breeze velocity or a zero velocity which does not lift the paper sheets stacked on the refeed tray, until more than a predetermined number of paper sheets have been discharged by discharge rollers and stacked on the refeed tray.

Abstract: In the case of a sheet feeder comprising a suction head which is arranged over a rising table for a stack of sheets and bears at least one sucker able to be connected with a source of vacuum and with air synchronously in steps with the operation of the equipment, a cam predetermined such steps and, following the suction head, a sheet conveyor, it is possible to achieve a more precise operation and more gentle handling of the products by providing an air supply duct and a vacuum duct, which are associated with the at least one sucker provided, and alternately switched on and off by a switching valve arranged near the sucker. For its part, the valve is operated by a control valve, actuated by the cam.

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 method and device for continuously feeding blanks for the formation of hard cigarette packs, whereby the blanks are withdrawn successively from the bottom opening of a feedbox and fed on to the outer periphery of a conveyor roller by means of mobile suction heads guided cyclically by crank mechanisms along a route having a portion substantially perpendicular to the bottom opening of the feedbox, and a further portion substantially tangent to the periphery of the conveyor roller and which further route portion is followed by the suction heads at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of the conveyor roller itself.

Abstract: A pneumatic system which in the preferred embodiment includes a pump having a primary suction port and a secondary suction port, with the pump being operable for generating vacuum pressures at both such ports. A first vacuum operated system is coupled to the primary suction port and a second vacuum operated system is coupled to the secondary suction port, and a predetermined, preferably selectively adjustable, orifice is established between the first and second vacuum operated systems for enabling vacuum airflow generated at the first suction port to augment the airflow through the second vacuum operated system. In an alternative embodiment, separate standard vacuum pumps are coupled to the first and second vacuum operated systems.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotary carrier which carries a plurality of semi-spherical gripping heads having concave gripping surfaces. The gripping heads are positioned such that the gripping surfaces become flush with the forwardmost plate in a vertically arrayed stack of plates as the carrier rotates. Each gripping head is mounted to the carrier through a hollow bellows and vacuum air drawn into a hole in the gripping face passes through the bellows. When the vacuum increases, due to the forwardmost plate in the stack being pulled up against the gripping head, the bellows collapses and pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack. Rollers, which extend beyond the periphery of the carrier, urge the stack away from the gripping head immediately before they become aligned. The vacuum then pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack and into contact with the gripping head before the bellows collapses thereby increasing the gap between them.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating of individual sheets from a stack of sheets, this arrangement comprising a rotatable pulley close to the uppermost sheet, which as a system of ducts connectable to a source of vacuum, with one or more openings which open out onto the periphery of the pulley, and an endless belt driven slip-free round the pulley with through-perforated holes which are arranged so as to coincide with the said opening of openings on the pulley to form suction elements to make possible the lifting off of sheets, one-by-one, from the stack.

Abstract: A vacuum media capturing and retention system for a drum type printer or recorder is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum drum with two regions of vacuum passages, one for capturing the leading edge of the media and the second for retaining the trailing edge of the media. When the leading edge of the media is initially captured the vacuum level in the drum is at one level. After the leading edge of the media is captured the vacuum level is dropped to a lower level until the trailing edge of the media is captured. Following the capture of the media trailing edge, the vacuum level within the drum is again increased to retain the media thereto during the copying or recording operation of the overall device.

Abstract: In a paper transport conveyor from a sheet feeder to a printing machine, the sheets are underlapped for speed reasons and for this purpose, the sheets are held and transported in a defined position using a conveyor table to which a vacuum is applied. In order to optimize the feed register in the printing machine in all states of operation, an additional conveyor device holds the sheets at the front gauges and aligns them. The vacuum at the conveyor table is quantitatively variable and the vacuum is so controlled according to operation as to be applied when sheets are required to be held on the conveyor table but interrupted when its action would obstruct the sheet alignment on the conveyor table.

Abstract: A flat article feeding apparatus has a stacker for accumulating a plurality of flat articles, in a standing state. A main suction chamber is arranged to confront a side of the flat articles which accumulate in the stacker. A perforated suction belt moves around the main suction chamber for picking up the flat article, one by one. A pair of confronting transfer belts transfer the flat articles within a pinch of the confronting belts, as they are delivered from the suction belt. An intake belt is positioned between the suction belt and the transfer belts. The intake belt flares outwardly to form an angle .theta., with respect to the flat artcle transfer direction. Fins are mounted on a roller which supports the intake belt in order to guide the oncoming flat articles carried by the belt. The speed V.sub.1 of the intake belt or fins is set at (V/cos .theta.) with respect to the transfer speed V.sub.2 of the flat article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for transferring a sheet of material. The process is characterized in that:at least two successive conveyors (11, 12) are connected, the second conveyor having a coefficient of adhesion which is higher than the first conveyor, andfirst, the speeds of said conveyors are adapted to the speed (V.sub.2) prevailing on the sheet as it arrives on the first conveyors, and then,when the sheet covers the second conveyor with a portion deemed adequate, the speed of the second conveyor is modified until it attains the speed (V.sub.2) at which the second conveyor is to deliver the sheet, and,finally, as soon as the sheet has let the second conveyor, the speed of the second conveyor is brought back to that of the first. The method and the apparatus for carrying out the method have particular application to printing and cutting machines.

Abstract: A vacuum take-off conveyor is used to transfer a printed sheet from a delivery conveyor to a sheet stacking apparatus. The vacuum conveyor has a vacuum chamber structure with an inner chamber. A vacuum source is connected to the chamber structure, near a first end thereof, and operates to create a pressure differential between the chamber and the surrounding atmosphere. The chamber structure is provided with longitudinal slots in a bottom wall to provide air communication from the atmosphere into the chamber. An endless foraminous belt is received onto the chamber structure to form a continuous loop from the first end to a second end thereof, and is rotated by a drive pulley. A damper, such as an adjustable damper plate, is situated within the chamber so as to produce a high vacuum region near the vacuum source between the damper plate and the first end of the chamber structure, and a low vacuum region between the damper plate and the chamber structure second end.

Abstract: A device for controlling the vacuum at a rotating vacuum cylinder in a high peed paper converting machine by means of a control head having a conical shape which is supported coaxially therewith and which is secured against rotation. The conically shaped control head is telescoped into a complementarily shaped opening in the vacuum cylinder with an exact fit. The two cooperating control surfaces lie on the outer cone surface of the control head and on the inner cone surface of the vacuum cylinder.

Abstract: Sheets are fed from the top of a stack (12) by a continuously rotating vacuum wheel (40). After the leading edge of a just-fed sheet is detected, a control circuit (110) de-energizes valve means (92) whereby the wheel (40) is effectively disconnected from a source of vacuum (90). Indicia borne on the just-fed sheet is read using a probe (23). If the indicia indicates that the just-fed sheet is related for grouping purposes to previously-fed sheets, the control circuit (110) energizes valve means (92) whereby vacuum is applied to the wheel (40) for the feeding of a further sheet. If the indicia indicates that the just-fed, just-read sheet is not related to previously-fed sheets, the control circuit (110) does not energize the valve means (92) for the feeding of a further sheet until the control circuit (110) receives an indication that all previously-fed sheets have been grouped and discharged onto an insert track (32).

Abstract: A system for feeding a flat article has a suction chamber; a suction belt for picking up one of a plurality of flat articles which are stacked in a vertically standing state. The suction belt moves along the front surface of the suction chamber. The flat articles are carried over a transport path by the suction belt. At an upstream position in the transport path, the intervals between the flat articles are detected. First and second motors drive the suction belt, varying the rotational motor speeds. A roller along the transport path contacts the transferred flat articles in accordance with the interval which is detected by the detecting member.