A post-processing apparatus includes a movable portion and an opposing portion that are arranged to be opposite to each other with a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed interposed between the movable portion and the opposing portion, and a restricting member that has a holding surface including an abutment surface against which a sheet abuts, is capable of changing a posture between a first posture in which the holding surface closes the conveyance path and a second posture in which a clearance is formed in at least part of the conveyance path and is attached to a side where the opposing portion is located with respect to the conveyance path, wherein the movable portion processes a sheet positioned at the abutment surface by the restricting member having the first posture by moving toward the opposing portion.

A positioning device (38) for holding a flat flexible part, especially a sheet, on a positioning surface is described. It comprises a body (44) with a fluid inlet port (52) for supplying a driver fluid to the body (44), a fluid outlet port (58) for draining the driver fluid from the body (44), and a suction opening for aspiring the flat flexible part. A circulation channel (60) connects the fluid inlet port (52) and the fluid outlet port (58) and a suction channel (70) connects the suction opening to the circulation channel (60). The suction channel (70) is connected to the circulation channel (60) adjacent to a section (64) of reduced cross section area such that a jet pump (71) is formed. Every cross section (S.sub.c) of the circulation channel (60) and/or every cross section (S.sub.s) of the suction channel (70) along its entire respective length have/has a smooth rim. Additionally, a positioning assembly comprising at least one such positioning device (38) is presented. Moreover, a sheet material processing machine is introduced which comprises at least one positioning assembly.

A positioning device (38) for holding a flat flexible part, especially a sheet, on a positioning surface is described. It comprises a body (44) with a fluid inlet port (52) for supplying a driver fluid to the body (44), a fluid outlet port (58) for draining the driver fluid from the body (44), and a suction opening for aspiring the flat flexible part. A circulation channel (60) connects the fluid inlet port (52) and the fluid outlet port (58) and a suction channel (70) connects the suction opening to the circulation channel (60). The suction channel (70) is connected to the circulation channel (60) adjacent to a section (64) of reduced cross section area such that a jet pump (71) is formed. Every cross section (S.sub.c) of the circulation channel (60) and/or every cross section (S.sub.s) of the suction channel (70) along its entire respective length have/has a smooth rim. Additionally, a positioning assembly comprising at least one such positioning device (38) is presented. Moreover, a sheet material processing machine is introduced which comprises at least one positioning assembly.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting portion, a feeding portion, a regulation unit, and a sensor. The supporting portion configured to support a sheet. The feeding portion configured to feed the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The regulation unit configured to regulate a position of an edge portion of the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The sensor configured to output an output value that changes in accordance with an amount of movement of the regulation unit in the moving direction. The sensor is disposed above the supporting portion and the regulation portion in a gravity direction, and above an abutment position between the sheet supported by the supporting portion and the feeding portion in the gravity direction.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting portion, a feeding portion, a regulation unit, and a sensor. The supporting portion configured to support a sheet. The feeding portion configured to feed the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The regulation unit configured to regulate a position of an edge portion of the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The sensor configured to output an output value that changes in accordance with an amount of movement of the regulation unit in the moving direction. The sensor is disposed above the supporting portion and the regulation portion in a gravity direction, and above an abutment position between the sheet supported by the supporting portion and the feeding portion in the gravity direction.

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet includes a recording section which records the image on the sheet in a transport passage for transporting the sheet in a transport direction and multiple plates which are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. These multiple plates include a first type of plate and a second type of plate. Plates of a first type of plate are configured to overlap a sheet when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and the widthwise direction, while plates of the second type of plate do not.

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet includes a recording section which records the image on the sheet in a transport passage for transporting the sheet in a transport direction and multiple plates which are spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. These multiple plates include a first type of plate and a second type of plate. Plates of a first type of plate are configured to overlap a sheet when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and the widthwise direction, while plates of the second type of plate do not.

A turnover mechanism is configured to receive and flip over parts delivered by an in-feed conveyor to an out-feed conveyor. The turnover mechanism includes a frame and a gripper assembly coupled to the frame. The gripper assembly is configured to secure and move a part having one surface treated from the in-feed conveyor. The turnover mechanism further includes a flipper assembly coupled to the frame, the flipper assembly being configured to rotate and deliver the part to the out-feed conveyor with an opposite surface of the part exposed for treatment.

An apparatus for moving veneer includes a leaf spring having at lower tip end thereof sharpened edges and configured to move a veneer sheet toward its preceding stationary veneer sheet. Further lowering the leaf spring with the tip end already stuck in the veneer sheet causes the leaf spring to be resiliently deformed, which creates a force due to restoring force of the leaf spring that acts on the veneer sheet to move toward the preceding veneer sheet thereby to reduce or eliminate a gap between the two veneer sheets. Additional leaf spring movable with the above leaf spring and configured to hold the preceding veneer sheet during the movement may be provided.

A system for robotic manipulation of objects having various shapes and sizes. The system includes a robot having an end effector, and an independent tag. The independent tag may have an object attachment interface to grasp an object, and an end effector attachment interface to mechanically interface with the end effector. Upon actuation of the robot, the end effector may move the object via the independent tag. A corresponding method is also disclosed and claimed herein.