The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for printing and drying inks on substrates. Printing systems may include a metering device positioned between a printing station and a light source. During operation, the printing station deposits ink onto a substrate to define a printed region. And the light source directs infrared light onto the substrate to define an illumination zone. The printed region is advanced from the printing station to the metering device and from the metering device through the illumination zone, wherein the ink is dried with infrared light traveling from the light source, which also heats the substrate and changes the modulus of elasticity of the substrate. In turn, the metering device isolates the printing station from the change in the modulus of elasticity to help reduce phase shifts caused by changes in the modulus of elasticity resulting from heat in the substrate.

A continuous body folding device includes a conveying part having a moving surface that moves while suctioning and holding a first region of a continuous body, the conveying part conveying the continuous body in the longitudinal direction thereof; a first folding reference part in which a first endless belt, which moves in a first circulatory pathway along a first virtual plane including the moving surface, moves along a first reference segment adjacent to a virtual line of the continuous body in the same direction at the same speed as the moving surface; and first guiding members that are disposed along the first reference segment, contact a second region of the continuous body, and fold the continuous body along the virtual line and move the second region toward the first region so that the angle formed by the first and second regions becomes smaller as the continuous body is conveyed downstream.

A continuous body folding device includes a conveying part having a moving surface that moves while suctioning and holding a first region of a continuous body, the conveying part conveying the continuous body in the longitudinal direction thereof; a first folding reference part in which a first endless belt, which moves in a first circulatory pathway along a first virtual plane including the moving surface, moves along a first reference segment adjacent to a virtual line of the continuous body in the same direction at the same speed as the moving surface; and first guiding members that are disposed along the first reference segment, contact a second region of the continuous body, and fold the continuous body along the virtual line and move the second region toward the first region so that the angle formed by the first and second regions becomes smaller as the continuous body is conveyed downstream.

A sheet material conveying device unwinds from a roll body a sheet-shaped member constituting a membrane electrode assembly and conveys the sheet-shaped member. The sheet material conveying device is equipped with a suction member that moves the sheet-shaped member, and a negative pressure supply unit that supplies a negative pressure to the suction member. The suction member is constituted by a porous body capable of sucking under the negative pressure one surface of the sheet material having been unwound from the roll body and is movable in a conveying direction.

A sheet material conveying device unwinds from a roll body a sheet-shaped member constituting a membrane electrode assembly and conveys the sheet-shaped member. The sheet material conveying device is equipped with a suction member that moves the sheet-shaped member, and a negative pressure supply unit that supplies a negative pressure to the suction member. The suction member is constituted by a porous body capable of sucking under the negative pressure one surface of the sheet material having been unwound from the roll body and is movable in a conveying direction.

A conveying apparatus for a separator of an electrical device alternately laminates a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity from the first electrode, with a separator interposed therebetween to form a laminated body for conveyance. The separator includes a melt material representing a substrate and a heat-resistant material laminated on one surface of the melt material and having a higher melting point than the melt material. The separator conveying apparatus includes a drive member which makes contact with the separator and conveys the separator; and a pressure member which, while urging the drive member via the separator, is driven by the drive member. The drive member makes contact with the melt material portion of the separator. With this separator conveying apparatus, it is possible to maintain constant feed size or dimension of the separator assembly.

A conveying apparatus for a separator of an electrical device alternately laminates a first electrode and a second electrode of different polarity from the first electrode, with a separator interposed therebetween to form a laminated body for conveyance. The separator includes a melt material representing a substrate and a heat-resistant material laminated on one surface of the melt material and having a higher melting point than the melt material. The separator conveying apparatus includes a drive member which makes contact with the separator and conveys the separator; and a pressure member which, while urging the drive member via the separator, is driven by the drive member. The drive member makes contact with the melt material portion of the separator. With this separator conveying apparatus, it is possible to maintain constant feed size or dimension of the separator assembly.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport belt disposed with a part thereof shifted from the first transport unit toward the downstream side in a transport direction of the web, a suction chamber positioned in an inner side of the second transport belt and configured to create suction inside the suction chamber to suck the web onto the second transport belt, and a current plate positioned inside of the suction chamber to adjust an air current. The current plate has a plurality of holes, and is spaced apart from a surface of the second transport belt such that the air current is diffused between the current plate and the surface of the second transport belt to achieve a uniform suction force in a width direction of the second transport belt.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport belt disposed with a part thereof shifted from the first transport unit toward the downstream side in a transport direction of the web, a suction chamber positioned in an inner side of the second transport belt and configured to create suction inside the suction chamber to suck the web onto the second transport belt, and a current plate positioned inside of the suction chamber to adjust an air current. The current plate has a plurality of holes, and is spaced apart from a surface of the second transport belt such that the air current is diffused between the current plate and the surface of the second transport belt to achieve a uniform suction force in a width direction of the second transport belt.

A film feeding apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The film feeding apparatus comprises a delivery head. A surface of the delivery head has an air suction region and an air blowing region, and the air suction region and the air blowing region respectively include an air hole; and by cooperation of air suctioning through the air hole of the air suction region and air blowing through the air hole of the air blowing region, a film is kept nearby the delivery head in a non-contact manner in the case that the delivery head adsorbs the film.