A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet receiving part, a first discharge part, a sheet conveyance path, an escape conveyance path, a branch guide, an escape tray, a second discharge part, and a first sheet detection part. When a device failure occurs, the branch guide switches the conveyance direction such that the sheet remaining on the sheet conveyance path is discharged on the escape tray by the second discharge part, through the escape conveyance path sequentially. Then, the second discharge part stops a discharging of the sheet in a state where the sheet remains in the second discharge part when the sheet is a last sheet to be conveyed to the escape tray. Then, a receiving of a new sheet to the sheet receiving part from the image forming apparatus is inhibited while the first sheet detection part detects the last sheet.

A main mover and sub mover are made to run while changing a relative distance of the sub mover with respect to the main mover to change contact positions of cams and cam followers based on a holding position of a sheet member detected by a position detection device to thereby change a position in a horizontal plane of a holder and correct a holding position of the sheet member held at the holder to a preset reference position.

A ceramic fiber processing apparatus and method for processing ceramic fibers for the manufacture of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is provided. The apparatus includes a frame including a plurality of unidirectional ceramic fibers wound thereabout and extending across a void therein the frame to define a first planar array of ceramic fibers and a second planar array of ceramic fibers. During use, the frame is disposed in the ceramic fiber processing apparatus in a manner to enable gripping of the first planar array of ceramic fibers with a first gripper assembly and gripping of the second planar array of ceramic fibers with a second gripper assembly. A cutting mechanism provides cutting of the plurality of unidirectional ceramic fibers to separate the first planar array of ceramic fibers and the second planar array of ceramic fibers from one another.

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.

In an automatic cloth feeder that conveys cloth with a feeding conveyor, detects a trailing end of the cloth to hold the trailing end with a keeping-transferring part in the process of conveyance, and feeds the trailing end of the cloth into a process as a leading end, the keeping-transferring part has a pair of unfolding members provided as one set are provided on an outlet side of the feeding conveyor in order to hold the left and right trailing ends of the cloth, and the keeping-transferring part has holding pieces that are opened and closed substantially to the right and the left as seen from the top or from the front, to hold the trailing ends of the cloth but not coming into contact with the lifting means, in an open state and that is at the position of the lifting means in a closed state.

A media transport system, includes a transport path, a drive gear at one end of the transport path, a driven gear at an opposite end of the transport path, an endless loop transmission element engaged with the drive gear and the driven gear, a media clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element, and a one-way clutch coupled with the driven gear. The endless loop transmission element is to rotate in one direction to move the media clamp and transport media from the one end of the transport path toward the opposite end of the transport path, and the one-way clutch is to allow rotation of the driven gear in the one direction and resist rotation of the driven gear in an opposite direction.

A packaging machine having several work stations, a transport chain and a chain deflection pulley on which the transport chain is mounted. The transport chain comprises chain clips, each chain clip having an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part and/or the lower part may be moveable relative to each other to move the chain clips between an open position and a closed position. The material blank may be introduced into the open chain clips and secured in the closed chain clips to transport the material blank in a direction of transport using the transport chain. A chain opening mechanism may be actively and operably changed between an opening state and a closing state in order to open and close at least one chain clip disposed on a planar oriented section of the transport chain and/or to maintain an already opened chain clip in an open state.

A method for operating a packaging machine including one or more of the method steps advancing a transport chain along a chain deflection pulley, wherein chain clips are arranged on the transport chain and moved during the advancing motion of the transport chain along a run-on contour, to open at least one of the chain clips; introducing a flat material blank into the at least one open chain clip using a feed device or by entraining the flat material blank using a connection to a second material blank preceding the flat material blank, wherein the material blank enters the open chain clip during an advancing motion of the transport chain; closing the chain clip by leaving the run-on contour, to grip and secure the material blank in the chain clip; and transporting the material blank to a work station using the transport chain.

A media transport system, includes a transport path, a drive gear at one end of the transport path, a driven gear at an opposite end of the transport path, an endless loop transmission element engaged with the drive gear and the driven gear, a media clamp secured to the endless loop transmission element, and a one-way clutch coupled with the driven gear. The endless loop transmission element is to rotate in one direction to move the media clamp and transport media from the one end of the transport path toward the opposite end of the transport path, and the one-way clutch is to allow rotation of the driven gear in the one direction and resist rotation of the driven gear in an opposite direction.

A cylinder member includes: a cylinder body having a cross section and including a dent portion; a sheet member wrapped around the cylinder body and including a metal layer contacting the cylinder body and an outer layer; a first attachment member on a sheet member first end portion and removably attached to the dent portion; a second attachment member on a metal layer end portion protruding from the outer layer in the circumferential direction at a sheet member second end portion, the second attachment member being removably attached to the dent portion; a tension-applying mechanism pulling the second attachment member in a dent portion depth direction to apply tension to the metal layer; a projection on one of the second attachment member and metal layer end portion; and a fitting portion on other one of the second attachment member and the metal layer end portion and fitted to the projection.