The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a transporting a discrete element, by activating a discrete vacuum zone on a puck at or before an acquisition, rotating the puck about an axis (and optionally twisting the puck), and deactivating the discrete vacuum zone at a deposition point, through tightly controlled piecewise vacuum porting particularly in applications where vacuum commutation length changes in radial direction.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a transporting a discrete element, by activating a discrete vacuum zone on a puck at or before an acquisition, rotating the puck about an axis (and optionally twisting the puck), and deactivating the discrete vacuum zone at a deposition point, through tightly controlled piecewise vacuum porting particularly in applications where vacuum commutation length changes in radial direction.

The overlapping regions L are formed by overlapping the outer cylinder vent holes and the inner cylinder vent holes. If the suction port of the inner cylinder receives a suction force from the blower, air is sucked toward the suction port from the suction chamber facing the overlapping region L of the inner cylinder vent hole and the outer cylinder vent hole, out of the plurality of suction chambers, via the overlapping region L. The outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are so configured that the overlapping region L becomes narrower in the rotation direction Dr from the center toward the both ends in the axial direction Da.

The overlapping regions L are formed by overlapping the outer cylinder vent holes and the inner cylinder vent holes. If the suction port of the inner cylinder receives a suction force from the blower, air is sucked toward the suction port from the suction chamber facing the overlapping region L of the inner cylinder vent hole and the outer cylinder vent hole, out of the plurality of suction chambers, via the overlapping region L. The outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are so configured that the overlapping region L becomes narrower in the rotation direction Dr from the center toward the both ends in the axial direction Da.

A method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element is disclosed. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element is disclosed. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

A device for processing substrates uses a separation system. Processed substrates can be separated into one or more waste parts and at least one blank. Improved flexibility for treating substrates is provided. The separation system comprises a transport cylinder and a stripping cylinder associated therewith. The transport cylinder has first openings and has a detachably secured packing having depressions in which perforations are formed, with at least one perforation covering at least one first opening. The stripping cylinder has a detachably secured packing having raised areas that correspond to the depressions.

A device for processing substrates uses a separation system. Processed substrates can be separated into one or more waste parts and at least one blank. Improved flexibility for treating substrates is provided. The separation system comprises a transport cylinder and a stripping cylinder associated therewith. The transport cylinder has first openings and has a detachably secured packing having depressions in which perforations are formed, with at least one perforation covering at least one first opening. The stripping cylinder has a detachably secured packing having raised areas that correspond to the depressions.

A media feeding system comprises a driver configured to rotate a media roll in a first direction; a vacuum roller positioned in a media feed path and configured to rotate in the first direction; and a media end detecting sensor positioned in the media feed path, the media end detecting sensor being configured to detect a leading edge of the media; wherein the driver rotates the media roll in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the sensor detecting the leading end of the media.

A media feeding system comprises a driver configured to rotate a media roll in a first direction; a vacuum roller positioned in a media feed path and configured to rotate in the first direction; and a media end detecting sensor positioned in the media feed path, the media end detecting sensor being configured to detect a leading edge of the media; wherein the driver rotates the media roll in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the sensor detecting the leading end of the media.