A system for controlling curl in sheets passing beneath a camera includes applying a thin layer of high velocity air to a curved baffle positioned beneath the camera. The high velocity air layer, which will have a tendency to follow the curved baffle (Coanda effect), will divert sheets (Bernoulli effect) towards the curved baffle. By positioning the curved baffle along the media paper path and by applying a uniform air stream to it, a lower pressure area will be created. This will flatten the trajectory of the sheets and thereby remove curl before the sheets pass the camera.

An apparatus for controlling curl in sheets between two transports includes a curved baffle placed between the two transports. A thin layer of high velocity air is applied to the curved baffle. The high velocity air layer, which will have a tendency to follow the curved baffle (Coanda effect), will divert sheets (Bernoulli effect) towards the curved baffle. By positioning the curved baffle between the two transports and by applying a uniform air stream to it, a lower pressure area will be created. This will flatten the trajectory of the sheets and ensure acquisition by the downstream transport.

Methods of separating and positioning discrete articles formed from a continuous length of articles are provided. The methods may comprise the steps of receiving a first portion of the continuous length on a first head in a receiving position of an orbit about a first rotational axis and receiving a second portion of the continuous length on a second head in the receiving position of the orbit about the first rotational axis. The methods may comprise providing a laser system configured to produce and direct a laser beam, and ablating a portion of the continuous length of articles intermediate the first head and the second head with the laser beam to separate the first portion of the continuous length of articles from the second portion of the continuous length of articles, thereby forming a discrete article on the first head.

A medium transporting apparatus includes a transport belt that has a loop shaped, an clinging mechanism that causes a medium to cling to the transport belt, a rotation mechanism that rotates the transport belt in a first and second rotation direction, and an intermediate stacker on which the medium transported by the transport belt is stacked, in which the clinging mechanism cling an upper surface that is opposite to a lower surface of the medium on the intermediate stacker side, and after rotating the transport belt, to which the medium is cling, in the first rotation direction to transport the medium in a first transport direction, the rotation mechanism rotates the transport belt in the second rotation direction to transport the medium in a second transport direction that is opposite to the first transport direction so as to stack the medium on the intermediate stacker.

A sheet conveying system comprising a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the first conveyor in a transport direction for taking-over a sheet from the first conveyor, the first conveyor having a belt that is driven to move over a stationary attraction mechanism, the attraction mechanism being arranged to exert, onto a sheet conveyed on the first conveyor, an attraction force that is proportional to an area of coverage of the sheet on the attraction mechanism, characterized in that the attraction mechanism is arranged to attract the sheet with a larger force per area in a downstream zone of the first conveyor than in an upstream zone thereof.

An apparatus and method for the post-processing of successively following, sequentially printed sheets, includes a conveyor, a folding table, a folding sword, a folding roller pair, at least one pressing-down mechanism, and a machine control that is operatively connected to the folding sword and the pressing-down mechanism. The pressing-down mechanism includes at least one mechanical braking element which acts in the region of the back edge onto the top side of the printed sheet to be positioned on the folding table. The stationary folding sword includes a compressed-air device with at least one outlet opening for compressed air which is focused onto a folding roller gap. The folding table forms a gathering device for at least two successively following printed sheets. A sensor, arranged in a region of the conveyor, is operatively connected to the machine control and functions to detect the printed sheets, transported with the conveyor.

A conveying unit (100) of a web, or sheet, of paper, or similar products, arranged to transfer along a transfer direction the web, or sheet, of paper, having a support (41) having a lateral surface (42) provided with at least one peripheral suction groove (43). A suction belt (45) is arranged to move along a closed trajectory (46) comprising the suction portion (44). The suction belt (45) is configured to air-tightly engage the suction portion and provides at least one through hole (47) arranged to be positioned at a respective suction portion (43) in order to cause a suction effect on the web, or sheet, and to transfer it from a first point P1 to a second point P2 of a production line of paper products. It is, furthermore, provided a driving device (60) configured to move the suction belt (45) with respect to the support (41).

A module (M) for a machine (100) for processing flat objects having a support structure (1, 2, 3, 4) above which the flat objects are transported along a given transport path. The module includes a discharge system for such objects, the discharge system is capable of discharging any flat object which falls below the transport path.

A sheet stacker includes a sheet stacking portion, a guide portion, and an air blower. The sheet stacking portion is configured to stack a sheet bundle. The guide portion is configured to receive a leading end of a sheet conveyed toward the sheet stacking portion and guide the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The air blower is disposed above the sheet stacking portion and configured to blow air toward the sheet on a downstream side, in the sheet conveyance direction, from a position at which the guide portion receives the leading end of the sheet.

A sheet postprocessing device includes a sheet conveying passage, a sheet tray, an inlet guide, a processing device, and a blowing device. Though the sheet conveying passage, a sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed. The sheet tray is arranged downstream of the sheet conveying passage and has sheets stacked on it. The inlet guide is arranged at the downstream end of the sheet conveying passage and guides a sheet to the sheet tray. The processing device performs predetermined processing on a sheet stacked on the sheet tray. The blowing device blows air, from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, between the top face of the top-most sheet in the sheets stacked on the sheet tray and the bottom face of the subsequent sheet sent from the inlet guide into the sheet tray.