A transfer mechanism includes a main rotating member, a first driving unit, a support mechanism, a holding unit, a second driving unit and control unit and transfers a sheet member from a pickup position to a delivery position. The support mechanism is connected to the main rotating member and the holding unit. The control unit controls the second driving unit in such a manner that, when the sheet member is placed in at least one of the pickup position and the delivery position, a position of the holding unit is not substantially changed in a state where the main rotating member rotates around the rotational axis in the first rotation direction.

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

A postprocessing device includes a processing tray, a sheet processor, an air blower, an inlet roller pair, and a drive controller. The air blower forms an air layer between an upper face of a first recording sheet already placed on a loading surface of the processing tray, and a lower face of a second recording sheet to be newly placed on the processing tray, by sending air along a transport direction of the recording sheet, from an upstream side in the transport direction toward the loading surface. The drive controller performs an air sending operation, by causing the air blower to send air along the transport direction, before a second recording sheet contacts the upper face of the first recording sheet, and stop sending air before a trailing edge of the second recording sheet in the transport direction passes a nip region defined by the inlet roller pair.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet stacker, an air blower, and a guide. The sheet stacker stacks sheets. The air blower blows air to the sheets. The guide faces an uppermost sheet on the sheet stacker. A set height of a contact portion of the guide to contact the uppermost sheet is changeable.

A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

An apparatus for mounting data carriers onto a carrier web has a supply device, a transfer device and a carrier web positioning device. The supply device has a drive roller, a deflector, and at least one carrying belt running around the drive roller and deflector. A transportation path for the data carriers is hydraulically connected to a suction box such that data carriers are drawn by suction onto the carrying belt. The transfer device has a transfer roller hydraulically connected to a negative pressure source such that data carriers located on the outer casing of the transfer roller are drawn by suction onto the outer casing. The transfer roller has an entry region adjacent to the suction box and an exit region adjacent to the positioning device. At the exit region, a data carrier located on the outer casing of the transfer roller can be transferred onto the carrier web.

A sheet stacker includes a sheet ejector, a sheet stack portion, and air blowers. The sheet ejector ejects a sheet. The sheet stack portion stacks the sheet ejected by the sheet ejector. The air blowers blow air from blow ports toward the sheet ejected from the sheet ejector. Each of the air blowers includes an air generator, an air guide, a first blow portion, a second blow portion, and a switcher. The air generator generates the air. The air guide guides the air to each of the blow ports. The first blow portion blows the air toward the sheet. The second blow portion blows the air in a direction different from a direction in which the first blow portion blows the air. The switcher performs switching so that the air guide guides the air to one of the first blow portion and the second blow portion.

An apparatus for picking a product, including: a control circuit; at least one vacuum cup arranged to adhere, with negative pressure and at a first location, at least one sheet of material to the at least one vacuum cup; and at least one sensor to monitor an area proximate the at least one vacuum cup and transmit at least one signal regarding a presence of at least one sheet of material in the area. The apparatus is arranged to displace to a second location. The control circuit is arranged to determine, responsive to the at least one signal, the at least one sheet of material is not present in the area and generate an error signal indicating that the at least one sheet of material is not present in the area.

The present application discloses a post-processing apparatus including a second tray which receives a sheet stack ejected from a first tray, a pushing mechanism including a pushing portion which pushes the sheet stack against the second tray, a motion detector which detects a motion of the pushing mechanism, and a controller including an ejection controller which controls an ejector. When the ejector ejects the sheet stack, the pushing mechanism moves the pushing portion in a first direction away from the second tray. When the ejector finishes ejection of the sheet stack, the pushing mechanism moves the pushing portion in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. Unless the motion detector detects the motion of the pushing mechanism moving the pushing portion in the first direction when the ejector ejects the sheet stack, the ejection controller executes interruption control of stopping the ejection of the sheet stack.

A method of transporting single-cut sheets cut from a continuous sheet for absorbent articles includes transporting the sheets by bonding an upstream end of each sheet to an outer surface of a first rotating body by adhesive; and transporting the sheets by holding the sheets on an outer surface of a second rotating body rotating faster than the first body, the sheets being transported from the first body in a state in which the upstream end of each sheet is on the first body, a portion of each sheet on the second body sliding relative to the outer surface of the second body such that each sheet is transported at the peripheral speed of the first body, after the adhesive is separated and the upstream end moves to the second body, the second body transporting the sheets at the peripheral speed of the second body.