Abstract: Unstacker apparatus (1) for unstacking flat items (E), the unstacker apparatus comprising a flat item feed magazine (M) in which the flat items are disposed in a stack and on edge and are moved in a certain direction (D) until they reach an unstacking plate (6) disposed in alignment with said feed magazine, whereupon they are ejected one-by-one in a perpendicular direction (P) that is perpendicular to said certain direction (D), the unstacker apparatus further comprising a blower member (13) which is disposed so as to blow a jet of air onto the flat items, and which is mounted in a manner such as to be retractable into the unstacking plate.

Abstract: A document conveying apparatus (1) includes a conveying unit (30) inside a document feeding section (10), and the conveying unit (30) includes two fans (34) for cooling the inside of the document conveying apparatus (1). The fans (34) are arranged to pass air from upstream to downstream with respect to the document conveying direction. Thus, the stream of air produced by the fan (34) flows along the document conveying direction so that a document sheet is conveyed without being affected by a braking effect. Moreover, the air stream produced by the fan (34) flows along the document conveying passage (13) both on the air intake side and the air exhaust side of the fan (34). This facilitates the conveying of a document sheet by pulling it on the air intake side of the fan (34) and pushing it on the air exhaust side of the fan (34).

Abstract: A sheet feeder (20) and method of operation thereof feeds sheets in a conveyance direction (30). The sheet feeder (20) comprises a sheet hopper (22); a sheet deflector (24); and a sheet extractor (26). The sheet deflector (24) is arranged for deflecting a top sheet-to-be-fed (32) from a sheet stack (28) from a sheet undeflected acquisition position to a sheet deflected position. The sheet deflector (24) has a major axis (34) oriented essentially parallel to a trailing edge the top sheet-to-be-fed from the sheet stack (28). The sheet deflector (24) is arranged to undergo three degrees of motion including selective rotation about its major axis for moving the top sheet-to-be-fed from the sheet undeflected acquisition position to the sheet deflected position.

Abstract: There are provided a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus, which enable stable sheet conveyance without depending on sheet size. An air suction portion having a duct portion for air suction is provided inwardly of an endless belt having a plurality of suction holes. Air is taken in through the suction holes of the endless belt and the duct portion for air suction by the air suction portion to absorb a sheet onto the endless belt. When the sheet having a sheet conveying direction length in which a sheet trailing end reaches the endless belt before a sheet leading end reaches a fixing device is conveyed, at least part of the portion of the duct portion through which the sheet trailing end passes before the sheet leading end reaches the fixing portion is closed by a shutter.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a stack of sheets in a direction of movement to a process station, including: an elevator tray for holding stacks of sheets; a feed head for picking up a sheet from the stack of sheets when a vacuum force; air knife for blowing air between individual sheets in the stack of sheets, the sheet feeding apparatus having a first mode of operation for feeding a single stack of sheets from the sheet tray and a second mode of operation for feeding first stack of sheets and a second stack of sheets from the elevator tray.

Abstract: A sheet cassette including a sheet stacking case configured to contain sheets, the sheet stacking case having a securing mechanism for securing an air supply unit supplying air, and a duct for sending the air supplied from the air supply unit to end portions of the contained sheets, thereby allowing the air supply unit to be attached to blow the air only when necessary.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for facilitating the separation and retrieval of a topmost disc stored in a vertical stack of similar discs, with minimal modification to existing production lines, are provided. A disc stacking apparatus configured to allow flow of preferably ionized air through an air channel within a spindle shaft and out through one or more air ports is also provided.

Abstract: An air blowing portion blows air to the end of sheets supported by a lifting and lowering tray. The sheets blown up by the air from the air blowing portion are sucked and conveyed by a sucking and conveying portion. The sheets are preliminarily blown up above the suckable rang. Then, the sheets are lowered to the suckable range before a sucking and conveying operation is started. In the above operation, the tray is lifted, and thereafter the tray is lowered until the sheets reach the suckable range while repeating a step operation of performing a lowering operation and a stop operation based on detection of the upper surface of the sheets by a sheet detecting mechanism.

Abstract: During the gathering process, an individual signature is respectively withdrawn from several collections of identical signatures, wherein the various decollated signatures are delivered to a collecting conveyor in order to form stacks. In this case, the sheets need to be reliably and carefully decollated. The invention proposes that the sheets (3) of a collection are made available in the form of a stack (4), wherein the stack (4) is essentially supported by an air cushion (LP), that the bottom sheet (3) is at least regionally lifted off the stack (4) with the aid of a separating tool (30), that the air cushion (LP) is produced between the bottom sheet (3) and the residual stack (4), and that the sheet (3) is delivered to the collecting conveyor (10). The lifted-off sheet is completely separated from the stack by the air cushion such that the sheet can be transported out of the magazine with absolutely no friction relative to the stack (4) situated above the separated sheet.

Abstract: A feeding unit is detachably attached to a sheet cassette in which sheets are loaded. The feeding unit includes a sheet tray on which sheets are loaded, and a fan for blowing air against the side surface of a stack of sheets loaded on the sheet tray, the sheet tray and the fan being held in a case.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding device including: a tray holding sheets; a chamber having an opening and generating a negative pressure thereinside; a suction belt that suctions and conveys a first sheet from the sheets and that is configured to be rotatable along with the chamber and deformable into a concave shape along with the opening; a regulating member disposed inside the opening to regulate a concaving amount of the suction belt; a sheet gate disposed in a sheet feeding passage to be opposed to the suction belt and configured to retreat when contacted by the suction belt; and a nozzle that blows air toward the sheet and toward the suction belt.

Abstract: This invention relates to a picker assembly for a printer having rollers to feed a sheet of porous print media past a printhead. The picker assembly includes a pivot rod linked to a pick-up bar by means of swing arms, a motor connected to the pivot rod operatively reciprocated between a stack of sheets and the rollers. The assembly also includes a number of fluid ports located on the pick-up bar, said ports having pads to facilitate contact with the print media, and a pump configured to deliver air to and extract air from the fluid ports via a fluid delivery manifold and a fluid extraction manifold, respectively. Further included is a valve arrangement alternately connecting the delivery manifold and extraction manifold to the pump in time with the reciprocating motion of the pivot rod, so that the sheet is lifted from the stack and fed between the rollers each time the pivot bar is reciprocated from the stack to the rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding apparatus which separates and feed a sheet one by one using a loosening fan which blows air from an air blowing portion for loosening the sheet on a tray. The rotating speed of the sheet loosening fan is adjusted while the sheet supported by the tray is not located in front of a position where the air is blown from the air blowing portion.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a sheet feeder including; an air blowing unit floating and separating an upper portion of sheet of paper laid on a tray; and a transfer belt adsorbing and transferring uppermost sheet of paper laid on the tray; an optical analog sensor sensing an upper face of the uppermost sheet of paper and comprising a sensing face including a light receiving surface; a shield plate movable with the sheet, the shield plate detecting a position of upper face of the sheet of paper so as to keep a position of the uppermost sheet at a constant position and comprising; an elastic shield member having a C-character shape, a surface of the elastic shield member where the elastic shield member is contact with the light receiving surface of the optical analog sensor being in the same plane of a surface of the elastic shield member where the elastic shield member is contact with the shield-plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus provided with a fan for blowing air against sheets stacked on a sheet tray, a position detecting sensor for detecting the position of the sheets floated up by the fan, and a tray lifting and lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the sheet tray. The tray lifting and lowering mechanism is controlled on the basis of a result of detection by the position detecting sensor.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can certainly feed sheets without being influenced by an aging change of fan characteristics are provided. An air is blown to sheets stacked on a tray by an air blowing mechanism having a plurality of fans which are independently rotated, thereby loosening the sheets. Prior to starting the feeding of the sheet, rotational speeds of the fans of the air blowing mechanism are controlled so as to be set to target rotational speeds which have been preset every plural fans so that a wind pressure which can loosen the sheets in the driving state of all fans is obtained.

Abstract: A printer includes a support structure. A feed arrangement is positioned on the support structure and is configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack. The feed arrangement includes a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly. A pair of rollers is configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement. A printing station is configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers. An air displacement mechanism is connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said printing station has a pair of opposed printhead assemblies between which said endmost sheet can be fed so that concurrent duplex printing can be performed on the endmost sheet.

Abstract: An air heating mechanism for heating the air which is blown from a loosening/separating nozzle toward the top sheet attracted to an attracting and conveying unit is provided. A control unit controls the air heating mechanism based on moisture content information from a sensor for detecting a moisture content of a sheet supported by the tray.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods relating to positioning differently sized sheets on a shuttle for printing are disclosed.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein each suction nozzle has a suction cup mounted to said pick-up bar.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said pick-up assembly includes an axle pivotally mounted with respect to the support structure, a pair of arms extending from either end of the axle, and a pick-up bar extending between the arms and along which said array is aligned.

Abstract: The position of a sheet accommodated in a sheet storage portion is restricted by a restricting member provided movably on a sheet storage portion. This restricting member has a holding portion which is movable freely and is attached detachably to the sheet storage portion so as to hold the restricting member at a restricted position corresponding to a sheet size. The end portion of the sheet whose rear end position is restricted is pressed from above by a pressing member provided movably in a vertical direction on the end portion restricting member. Then, to move the restricting member, an operation portion is operated and the holding portion is moved in a direction of releasing the engagement and the pressing member is raised upward of accommodated sheets.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said expulsion nozzles are interposed with said suction nozzles.

Abstract: A high speed printer for printing on sheets of porous media supplied from a stack of such sheets includes opposed pagewidth printheads. A sheet pick-up assembly is positioned operatively upstream of the pagewidth printheads. The sheet pick-up assembly has a gas conduit in fluid communication with a reversible gas supply, an outlet of the gas conduit being oriented so that the outlet is directed towards a top sheet of the stack such that a stream of gas can be directed out of the outlet and onto the top sheet to penetrate the top sheet and generate a cushion of gas between the first sheet and a second sheet to separate the first and second sheets. The reversible gas supply reverses the direction of the stream of gas back into the outlet to draw the first sheet against the outlet. A sheet feed mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the, or each printhead and has a displacement mechanism for displacing the gas conduit to feed the first sheet from the stack.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a movable pick-up device which has a one dimensional array of nozzles configured to direct air onto a topmost sheet of a print media stack so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly, rollers configured to engage the picked-up topmost sheet, a printhead configured to print on the engaged sheet, and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet feeding apparatus including a blower for blowing air through a stack of sheets, and a controller configured to operate the blower at a high power setting for a predetermined time period based upon elapsed off time and to subsequently operate the blower at a target power setting. A printer, a method of controlling blower power, and a method of minimizing misfeeds are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air current distributing apparatus includes: a cylinder having a first air port communicated with a supply source of an air current and also having a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth air port respectively communicated with an injection port of the air current; a main rotor rotated in the cylinder; and a subrotor rotated in the cylinder, wherein the main rotor has a cutout portion for selectively communicating the first air port with at least one of the second and the third air port according to the rotary position, and the subrotor has a cutout portion for selectively communicating the first air port with at least one of the fourth and the fifth air port according to the rotary position. When the air current distributing apparatus is used, a plurality of air currents are formed by one blower.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus including: a sheet storage tray that store a plurality of sheets; an suction belt that suctions an uppermost one of the sheets and conveys the sheet along a sheet conveyance surface; a nozzle including, first ejection openings that are disposed on both side ends across a substantially center portion of the suction belt and eject air toward the plurality of sheets, and a second ejection opening that is disposed at the substantially center portion of the suction belt and ejects air toward the suction belt; and a projecting member that projects downward with respect to the sheet conveyance surface, the projecting member being provided at a position opposite the nozzle with respect to the suction belt.

Abstract: A method which is capable of completely separating a plate member with a large area without using a peeling member and eliminating a possibility of permanent deformation on the plate member. A plurality of suction pads are suckingly disposed on a surface of a topmost plate member in a substantially lattice shape. Then, while the topmost plate member is held by the suction pads disposed in a zigzag shape among the suction pads disposed in the substantially lattice shape, the topmost plate member is lifted by the remaining suction pads. Finally, the suction pads holding the topmost plate member are lifted.

Abstract: An apparatus that is useful for acquiring and conveying a sheet includes a plenum having an opening for coupling a vacuum source to the plenum, a slide plate having a stop member positioned proximate a drop box opening in the slide plate, and a drop box adapted to slide within the drop box opening until a portion of the drop box engages the stop member so that the drop box is slidably installed in the slide plate. The apparatus may be used in an electrostatographic printing machine to improve top sheet acquisition.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism for a printing station. The mechanism includes a primary set of rollers and a secondary set of rollers for feeding a sheet of paper past a printhead, and a pivot rod rotatably driven by a drive means. Also included is a pick-up bar pivotally connected to the pivot rod via swing arms, the pick-up bar having a foot portion to facilitate pick-up of a sheet of paper from a stack. The mechanism further includes a fluid hose attached to the foot portion, said fluid hose operatively delivering pressurised air to the foot portion to facilitate pick-up of a sheet from the stack, wherein the pick-up bar delivers the sheet to the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet-supplying device has a sheet-accommodating tray, a raising/lowering unit, a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a controlling unit. The raising/lowering unit raises and lowers the sheet-accommodating tray substantially. The first position sensor detects a first position indicating a position in the stacked direction of one end portion of a topmost sheet stacked in the sheet-accommodating tray. The second position sensor detects a second position indicating a position in the stacked direction of another end portion of the topmost sheet. The controlling unit controls the raising/lowering unit to raise or lower the sheet-accommodating tray based on both the first position detected by the first position sensor and the second position detected by the second position sensor so that one end of the topmost sheet in the stacked status is positioned at a prescribed position in the stacked direction.

Abstract: A feeding unit is detachably attached to a sheet cassette in which sheets are loaded. The feeding unit includes a sheet tray on which sheets are loaded, and a fan for blowing air against the side surface of a stack of sheets loaded on the sheet tray, the sheet tray and the fan being held in a case.

Abstract: Sheet separation, feeding and printing with reduced image deletions of various types of print media sheets from a stack thereof, especially coated print media sheets with high humidity adhesion difficulties, is assisted by a sheet air puffer for a sheet separator/feeder having an automatically variably heated air supply. This may be accomplished by electronically obtaining information on the selected type of print media sheets to be fed from the sheet separator/feeder, and the ambient conditions, including at least the humidity, and by combining that information in an electronic look-up table additionally provided with set points to produce a control signal for variable air puffer temperature and strength.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said printing station has a pair of opposed printhead assemblies between which said endmost sheet can be fed so that concurrent duplex printing can be performed on the endmost sheet.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein each suction nozzle has a suction cup mounted to said pick-up bar.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said pick-up assembly includes an axle pivotally mounted with respect to the support structure, a pair of arms extending from either end of the axle, and a pick-up bar extending between the arms and along which said array is aligned.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said pick-up assembly is capable of rotational movement.

Abstract: A printer comprising: a support structure; a feed arrangement positioned on the support structure and configured to feed an endmost sheet of print media from the stack and including a movable pick-up assembly, the pick-up assembly having an array of spaced apart nozzles configured to direct air on to respective locations along said topmost sheet so that said topmost sheet can be picked-up from the stack by moving said pick-up assembly; a pair of rollers configured to engage with said endmost sheet fed from said feed arrangement; a printing station configured to print ink upon said endmost sheet engaged by said rollers; and an air displacement mechanism connected to the nozzles to displace air out of some expulsion nozzles and into some other suction nozzles, wherein said expulsion nozzles are interposed with said suction nozzles.

Abstract: In order to separate printing plates and intermediate layers present in pairs, suckers having a delimiting device are known which, on the basis of the different flexibility of intermediate layers and printing plates, permit these to be separated from one another. For particularly thin intermediate layers, this configuration reaches its limits. Accordingly, by moving a suction element slowly downward at a speed V1 from a second position at a distance from the printing plate stack, accurate gripping of an intermediate layer by the suction element can be ensured. This is improved substantially further in particular as a result of the fact that the suction element is moved slowly toward the stack surface by the intermediate steps in a range from 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A method of separating a sheet of print media from a stack (28) of sheets, the sheets being porous, includes blowing fluid on to a top surface of a topmost sheet (28.1) of the print media on the stack (28) so that the fluid passes through at least the topmost sheet (28.1) of the stack (28) and capturing at least a part of the topmost sheet for conveyance to a printing station (13) of a printer (10).

Abstract: A sheet supplying device which supplies a sheet, including: a sheet supplying tray which stacks a bundle of sheets; a first air blowing section which blows air against a side of the bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet supplying tray; a second air blowing section which blows air from downstream of the bundle of sheets in a sheet conveyance direction, onto a leading section of the sheets; a vacuum conveyance section which vacuums an uppermost sheet of the bundle of sheets and conveys the sheets one by one; a shielding member which shields air blown from the first air blowing section; a vacuum detection sensor which detects that a sheet has been vacuumed by the vacuum conveyance section; and a control section which controls the shielding member to open so that air generated by the first air blowing section is blown to the bundle of sheets.

Abstract: A method maintains an environment within an interior of a sheet feeder during dead-cycling of an image forming device to which the sheet feeder is operatively connected. The method jets pulses of air into the interior of the sheet feeder that houses two or more pieces of media therein while the image forming device is dead-cycling. By the method, the attractive forces between two pieces of adjacent media. In a stack are reduced or minimized, and feeding of multiple sheets can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: When a top sheet of a sheet stack stacked on a sheet tray capable of moving up and down is fed by sheet feeding device, air is blown to the end face of the sheet stack by air blowing device for improving a separation characteristic. The quantity of blown air for the top sheet to rise by a specified amount is determined based on a signal from rising sheet detecting device for detecting the top sheet rising by air blown by the air blowing device, and air is blown based on the determined air quantity when the sheet is fed by the sheet feeding device.

Abstract: A method for producing bound books, magazines or brochures by gathering printed sheets into non-bound book blocks along a conveying section that is supplied by at least one sheet feeder includes separating the lowest printed sheet from a stack of printed sheets by lifting one edge region of the lowest printed sheet from the bottom of the printed sheet stack, withdrawing the separated lowest printed sheet with the aid of a conveying element from the remaining sheet stack by gripping the separated edge region with the conveying element, and subsequently withdrawing the separated lowest printed sheet in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the edge region of the remaining sheet stack. The apparatus includes a separating device that lifts up the printed sheet at the stack front and a conveying element that pulls the printed sheet from the stack where both are arranged jointly on a removal unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device which blows air to placed sheets, separates and conveys the sheets includes a sheet containing portion which contains the sheets, an air blowing portion which blows air to the sheets contained in the sheet containing portion, and an air supply unit which supplies air to the air blowing portion. The air supply unit is constituted by connecting two or more centrifugal fans, and the air blown out from an upstream side fan in an air flow passage is sucked by an adjacent downstream side fan via a spiral flow passage.

Abstract: A tier sheet dispensing apparatus for a conveyor system stores a stack of tier sheets and sequentially dispenses the tier sheets, one at a time, onto the top of a two-dimensionally arrayed layer of objects that is being conveyed on a conveyor system. The tier sheet dispensing apparatus has a curved surface that supports the stack of tier sheets. The curved surface bends the stack of tier sheets in a convex curve that facilitates the removal of a single sheet from the top of the stack. The apparatus also has a lift mechanism that moves vertically over the stack of tier sheets to selectively attach to the top tier sheet in the stack and raise the top tier sheet from the stack. The lift mechanism also moves transversely relative to the stack of tier sheets to position the attached tier sheet over the conveyor for placement of the tier sheet on the layer of objects conveyed by the conveyor.

Abstract: A device for optionally or selectively drawing in a cutout from a stack of several cutouts, or taking over a cutout from a separating cutting device, which separates the cutout from a material web, includes a vacuum guide roller in which the cutout coming from the stack or the cutout that has been taken over can be passed to a subsequent work station for processing of the cutout in a work cycle, at a cycle speed. This device reduces both production costs and machine maintenance costs, reduces the amount of space required for the machine and generates less noise. The vacuum guide roller is configured as a segment roller in which optionally or selectively the cutout can be drawn in from the stack and accelerated to the cycle speed, or the cutout taken over from the separating cutting device can be accelerated to the cycle speed.

Abstract: An air duct is disposed in the vicinity of a heating member generating the heat for heating sheets stacked in a sheet tray, and the air in the air duct is heated by the heat generated by the heating member. The air duct is connected to an air blowing portion blowing the air toward the sheets stacked in the sheet tray, and the air in the air duct that is heated by the heat generated by the heating member is blown toward the sheets stacked in the sheet tray by the air blowing portion.