A printing system comprises a print station and print medium transport system. The print medium transport system comprises a track and a transport apparatus engaged with the track. The track defines a transport path past the print station, the transport path has a print medium entry point and a print medium exit point. The transport apparatus comprises: a drive for moving the transport apparatus along the track; and a gripping system. The gripping system can be moved between a first position in which a sheet of print medium is gripped and a second position in which the sheet of print medium is released. In use, the gripping system is configured to be in the first position when the transport apparatus is in motion along the track from the print medium entry point to the print medium exit point.

A sheet conveying device and a sheet conveying method whereby it is possible to convey a sheet more accurately. This sheet conveying device includes a holder capable of holding a sheet, bringing the sheet into a stretched state while holding the sheet, and conveying the held sheet. This sheet conveying device also includes a sheet state recognizer that recognizes the state of the sheet when the sheet is held in a stretched state by the holder.

A sheet conveying device and a sheet conveying method whereby it is possible to convey a sheet more accurately. This sheet conveying device includes a holder capable of holding a sheet, bringing the sheet into a stretched state while holding the sheet, and conveying the held sheet. This sheet conveying device also includes a sheet state recognizer that recognizes the state of the sheet when the sheet is held in a stretched state by the holder.

A cylinder member includes: a cylinder body having a cross section and including a dent portion; a sheet member wrapped around the cylinder body and including a metal layer contacting the cylinder body and an outer layer; a first attachment member on a sheet member first end portion and removably attached to the dent portion; a second attachment member on a metal layer end portion protruding from the outer layer in the circumferential direction at a sheet member second end portion, the second attachment member being removably attached to the dent portion; a tension-applying mechanism pulling the second attachment member in a dent portion depth direction to apply tension to the metal layer; a projection on one of the second attachment member and metal layer end portion; and a fitting portion on other one of the second attachment member and the metal layer end portion and fitted to the projection.

A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet includes a conveying path in which a sheet is conveyed; a setting portion including an opening formed in a cover, a setting face supporting a lower face of a sheet bundle inserted through the opening from an outside of the sheet processing apparatus, and a regulating face which regulates a position of the sheet bundle; a stack portion on which sheets are stacked; a binding unit which is configured to bind a sheet bundle set on a sheet setting area; and a punching unit being configured to be movable in the sheet width direction, the punching unit including a punching portion which forms a punch hole. In the sheet width direction, the sheet setting area is arranged as being overlapped with a moving area of an end of the one side of the punching unit in the sheet width direction.

A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet includes a conveying path in which a sheet is conveyed; a setting portion including an opening formed in a cover, a setting face supporting a lower face of a sheet bundle inserted through the opening from an outside of the sheet processing apparatus, and a regulating face which regulates a position of the sheet bundle; a stack portion on which sheets are stacked; a binding unit which is configured to bind a sheet bundle set on a sheet setting area; and a punching unit being configured to be movable in the sheet width direction, the punching unit including a punching portion which forms a punch hole. In the sheet width direction, the sheet setting area is arranged as being overlapped with a moving area of an end of the one side of the punching unit in the sheet width direction.

A suction device for retaining and/or transporting objects, comprising a main supporting body (2) and at least one operating plate (3) provided with suction holes (7) connected to and suction means, in which the operating plate (3) is removably associated with the main supporting body (2) and has a second connecting face (5) coupled to a first connecting face (4) of the main supporting body (2), and in which the device also comprises one or more magnets (13) and one or more ferromagnetic bodies (14), each ferromagnetic body (14) being magnetically coupled to one or more magnets (13) when the operating plate (3) is associated with the main supporting body (2) for keeping the operating plate (3) fastened to the main supporting body (2), each magnet (13) and the ferromagnetic body (14) magnetically coupled to it being constrained respectively one to the operating plate (3), the other to the main supporting body (2).

A system includes an image forming station, which is configured to apply droplets of one or more printing fluids to a target substrate, so as to form an image thereon, and a substrate conveyor, which includes one or more perforated plates having multiple openings, and is configured to grip and move the target substrate to and from the image forming station for forming the image, the substrate conveyor includes one or more rotatable elements, which are fitted in the respective openings, and are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate, and when the target substrate moves over the one or more rotatable elements, at least one of the rotatable elements is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate.

A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.

A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.