A vacuum diverter defined by a housing or hollow body having a first end, a second end, a plurality of sides, and an opening formed in one of the plurality of sides. A valve flap is disposed within the hollow body and moveable between a first position and a second position. The valve flap is supported by a shaft that extends across a cavity defined by the housing and which is rotationally supported by the housing such that the shaft and valve flap can be removed from the housing in a crossing direction relative to an axis of rotation of the shaft. Rotation of the shaft effectuates rotation of the valve flap relative to the cavity to selectively fluidly connect the discrete vacuum flow passages defined by the housing.

A multifunctional end effector includes a support structure configured to be carried by a robotic system and at least two of a fluid stream cutting system, a spindle system and/or a scanning system, each mounted to the support structure. Also described is a fluid stream cutting system having a plurality of fluid stream catchers selectively mountable to the fluid stream system and a mounting arrangement for mounting each fluid stream catcher to the fluid stream cutting system.

The present disclosure relates to processing a substrate including at least one sheet of paper, cardboard or carton by directing a jet stream of liquid nitrogen to a surface of the substrate via a jet nozzle; and by moving the jet nozzle at a distance from the surface. The jet stream can be unmodulated or modulated. For example, the jet stream can be modulated by a modulation unit such as to reduce the impact of the jet stream on the surface. In this way, the jet stream can be applied to score folding lines into the substrate. An unmodulated or on/off modulated jet stream can be applied to cut lines into the substrate. Thus, by applying an appropriate modulation to the jet stream, the processing can switch between cutting the substrate and scoring folding lines into the substrate.

A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

The present disclosure relates to processing a substrate including at least one sheet of paper, cardboard or carton by directing a jet stream of liquid nitrogen to a surface of the substrate via a jet nozzle; and by moving the jet nozzle at a distance from the surface. The jet stream can be unmodulated or modulated. For example, the jet stream can be modulated by a modulation unit such as to reduce the impact of the jet stream on the surface. In this way, the jet stream can be applied to score folding lines into the substrate. An unmodulated or on/off modulated jet stream can be applied to cut lines into the substrate. Thus, by applying an appropriate modulation to the jet stream, the processing can switch between cutting the substrate and scoring folding lines into the substrate.

A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.