An upper conveyor deck includes a plurality of belts each supported by an upstream end pulley and a downstream end pulley which belts are configured to be driven along a closed path having an interior such that a lower run of each of the belts travels in a downstream direction and an upper run of the each of the belt travels in an upstream direction. A first diversion pulley in the interior of at least one of the belts contacts the lower run of that belt, and a diversion guide outside the interior of the belt contacts the belt downstream from the first diversion pulley. A deflecting device at the first diversion pulley is configured to prevent scrap material from becoming pinched between the belt and the first diversion pulley.

The invention relates to a stacking device (10) for placing sheet-shaped elements (P) in stacks in a forming machine (1), said stacking device (10) comprising: a movable stacking surface (11), and an actuating device (12) for moving stacking surface (11): between a retracted position and a vertical forward position in a reciprocating back-and-forth motion for stacking sheets, and between the retracted position and a stowed position to open an access to the stack of sheet-shaped elements (P), characterized in that the actuator (12) comprises cam means configured to move the stacking surface (11) upwardly in the retracted position, in a raised position to be located above the top of the sheet stack.

The invention also relates to a machine forming sheet-shaped elements comprising at least one such stacking device.

A device (12) for changing a sheet pile in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine is described. The device (12) comprises a main pile supporting unit (18) having a supporting surface (22) adapted to support a pallet (16) carrying a sheet pile. Furthermore, the device (12) comprises a residual pile supporting unit (24) with a plurality of residual pile bars (28), which can be moved into a sheet pile region (30) when the sheet pile is to be changed. The residual pile bars (28) are then carrying the sheet pile. When in the sheet pile region (30), each of the residual pile bars (28) is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface (22), wherein the residual pile bars (28) are movable independently from each other. Furthermore, a method for changing the sheet pile in a sheet feeder (10) for a sheet treating machine is explained.

A positioning device (38) for holding a flat flexible part, especially a sheet, on a positioning surface is described. It comprises a body (44) with a fluid inlet port (52) for supplying a driver fluid to the body (44), a fluid outlet port (58) for draining the driver fluid from the body (44), and a suction opening for aspiring the flat flexible part. A circulation channel (60) connects the fluid inlet port (52) and the fluid outlet port (58) and a suction channel (70) connects the suction opening to the circulation channel (60). The suction channel (70) is connected to the circulation channel (60) adjacent to a section (64) of reduced cross section area such that a jet pump (71) is formed. Every cross section (S.sub.c) of the circulation channel (60) and/or every cross section (S.sub.s) of the suction channel (70) along its entire respective length have/has a smooth rim. Additionally, a positioning assembly comprising at least one such positioning device (38) is presented. Moreover, a sheet material processing machine is introduced which comprises at least one positioning assembly.

In a sheet processing method for sheets of paper or cardboard, a sheet for processing is, in the processing station, firstly brought to a standstill and then set down, whereas the processed sheet is, in the output station, set down from a moving state. A punching or stamping machine has an input station, a processing station and an output station arranged one behind the other in a sheet transport path, and a sheet gripping device which is designed to set down a sheet for processing in the processing station when the sheet gripping device has come to a standstill in a second reversal position, and to set down a processed sheet in the output station as the sheet gripping device approaches the second reversal position.

The invention relates to an installation for printing and die-cutting laminar bodies, which comprises a digital printing station (1) for printing at least one face of the laminar bodies, and a die-cutting station (2) for die-cutting the laminar bodies coming from the digital printing station (1), comprising first conveying means (3) for moving the laminar bodies (P) positioned between the digital printing station (1) and a redirection station (5), and second conveying means (4) for moving the laminar bodies between the outlet of the redirection station (5) and the die-cutting station (2), The digital printing station defines an axial direction of travel and the die-cutting station (2) defines an axial direction of travel that is perpendicular to the axial direction of travel of the laminar bodies in the digital printing station (1), such that an L-shaped path of the laminar bodies (P), viewed in the plan view, is defined.

A chain tensioner (50; 500) for a conveying device (70) of a machine (1; 1) for processing elements in the form of sheets (10), the conveying device (70) includes two lateral chain sets connected to the ends of transverse gripper bars (75) able to grasp the elements (10) and at least one chain-guiding device (90) configured to guide a respective chain set (80); the chain tensioner (50; 500) includes: an actuator (9) controlled by a control unit (8), a movable support (11), a transmission element (12) borne by the movable support (11), a rotary element (13) rotated by the actuator (9) and cooperating with the transmission element (12) in order to exert a thrust force on the movable support (11), the rotary element (13) being rotatable, to adjust the tension of the chain set (80). The actuator (9) is controlled in synchronism with the machine angle (MA). A machine (1; 1) for processing elements and a method for tensioning the chain sets (80) of the conveying device (70) are disclosed.

A layboy includes an upper belt section with a plurality of transversely spaced upper belts that extend in a longitudinal direction such that bottom portions of the upper belts lie in a first plane that defines an upper boundary of a transport path through the layboy and a lower belt section having a plurality of transversely spaced lower belts that extend in the longitudinal direction such that top portions of the lower belts lie in a second plane that defines an upper boundary of the transport path. The bottom portion of one of the top belts and/or the top portion of one of the bottom belts extends away from the transport path to define a gap in the transport path at which scrap moving through the layboy can fall out of the transport path.

A register (20; 60) for a processing machine (1) for processing plate-like elements (10) includes a gripping element (21; 22) for placing the plate-like elements (10) in a gripper bar (31) of a conveyor (30) of a processing machine (1) conveying the plate-like elements (10) in a longitudinal direction, an actuator module (201, 202) to drive the gripping element (21; 22), at least one front correction sensor module (7) configured to measure the front position of register marks (12a) printed on a front section of the plate-like element (10) grasped by the gripping element (21; 22). The register (20; 60) includes at least one front pre-correction sensor module (80), placed upstream of the front correction sensor module (7) in the longitudinal direction, the front pre-correction sensor module (80) is configured: to detect the passage of a front transversel edge of the plate-like element (10) in at least two longitudinally spaced lateral axis of detection (P1, P2), one located in front of the other, and to provide measurements to a computation and control unit (40) of the processing machine (1) that is configured: to control the actuator module (201, 202) in order to move the gripping element (21; 22) toward the gripper bar (31) and to activate the gripping element (21; 22) in order to grasp a plate-like element (10). Also a processing machine for processing plate-like elements includes the register. A method for placing plate-like elements within a processing machine is disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus that separates and efficiently captures from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material in an orderly manner which prevents damage to the selected piece while preventing the undesired lifting or movement of the surrounding material. The apparatus comprises a pick head assembly including a cylinder with a plurality of orifices that communicates with the selected piece to maintain contact between the selected piece and the cylindrical surface while the selected piece is being removed.