An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion extending along a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, an air nozzle, and a pipe. The pipe includes a portion extending along a widthwise direction of the first rotatable member perpendicular to a recording material feeding direction.

A stripper assembly can include a feed wheel, a stripping tire, a drag clutch, and first and second stripping elements. The feed wheel and stripping tire can be mounted for rotation in clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) directions and can contact one another to define a nip through which papers are directed. The drag clutch can be interposed between the stripping tire and the shaft it is mounted upon. The first and second stripping elements can be positioned on the shaft of the stripping tire on opposite sides of the nip. Each of the stripping elements can be configured and positioned to engage papers passing through the nip. The drag clutch is not interposed between either of the first and second stripping elements and the shaft of the stripping tire.

A stripper assembly can include a feed wheel, a stripping tire, a drag clutch, and first and second stripping elements. The feed wheel and stripping tire can be mounted for rotation in clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) directions and can contact one another to define a nip through which papers are directed. The drag clutch can be interposed between the stripping tire and the shaft it is mounted upon. The first and second stripping elements can be positioned on the shaft of the stripping tire on opposite sides of the nip. Each of the stripping elements can be configured and positioned to engage papers passing through the nip. The drag clutch is not interposed between either of the first and second stripping elements and the shaft of the stripping tire.

A medium discharge unit includes a discharge roller pair configured to nip a medium between a first roller and a second roller and discharge the medium to a sheet ejection unit, a first pressing member including a medium pressing portion configured to move below a nipping position at which the discharge roller pair nips the medium and being configured to press the medium by the medium pressing portion, and a lifting member configured to lift up the medium pressing portion from a first position below the nipping position to a second position above the first position. The medium pressing portion is lifted by the lifting member while a downstream leading edge of the medium in a discharge direction passes through the nipping position, and moves from the first position to the second position. While an upstream trailing edge of the medium in the discharge direction passes through the nipping position, the medium pressing portion moves from the second position to the first position.

A medium discharge unit includes a discharge roller pair configured to nip a medium between a first roller and a second roller and discharge the medium to a sheet ejection unit, a first pressing member including a medium pressing portion configured to move below a nipping position at which the discharge roller pair nips the medium and being configured to press the medium by the medium pressing portion, and a lifting member configured to lift up the medium pressing portion from a first position below the nipping position to a second position above the first position. The medium pressing portion is lifted by the lifting member while a downstream leading edge of the medium in a discharge direction passes through the nipping position, and moves from the first position to the second position. While an upstream trailing edge of the medium in the discharge direction passes through the nipping position, the medium pressing portion moves from the second position to the first position.

A black wheel for transporting an ultra-thin silicon wafer may include grooves provided on a side surface of the black wheel along a circumferential direction of the black wheel. Compressed air lines are respectively accommodated within the grooves, and an air outlet of each of the compressed air lines is provided to align with a side of the ultra-thin silicon wafer close to a next process device.

A black wheel for transporting an ultra-thin silicon wafer may include grooves provided on a side surface of the black wheel along a circumferential direction of the black wheel. Compressed air lines are respectively accommodated within the grooves, and an air outlet of each of the compressed air lines is provided to align with a side of the ultra-thin silicon wafer close to a next process device.

The invention relates to a device (100) for transporting and separating blanks (1010) from a material web (1000), comprising a vacuum cylinder (8) for transporting the blanks (1010), a vacuum transport cylinder (7) for further transporting the blanks (1010), and a control unit (9). According to the invention, the vacuum cylinder (8) has a pivotable vacuum segment (82) and a rotary actuator (85) is provided for rotating the vacuum segment during operation. This makes it possible to reduce the effective vacuum region on a surface of the vacuum cylinder (8). The invention also relates to a method for transporting and separating blanks from a material web. A device and method enable a gentler and more accurate transfer of blanks from a vacuum cylinder to a vacuum transport cylinder.