A system includes an image forming station, which is configured to apply droplets of one or more printing fluids to a target substrate, so as to form an image thereon, and a substrate conveyor, which includes one or more perforated plates having multiple openings, and is configured to grip and move the target substrate to and from the image forming station for forming the image, the substrate conveyor includes one or more rotatable elements, which are fitted in the respective openings, and are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate, and when the target substrate moves over the one or more rotatable elements, at least one of the rotatable elements is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate.

A recording medium transport device includes: a circulating member that forms a part of a transport path for transporting a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member and thereby circulates and holds a front end portion of the recording medium; plural transport cylinders around which the circulating member is suspended and having a recessed part in which the holding member is stored; and a selection part that selects any one of the plural transport cylinders. A mode for stopping the selected one of the plural transport cylinders so that the recessed part of the selected one of the plural transport cylinders is located at a maintenance position is prepared.

A transport device includes: a first rotating body including a shaft portion, a cylindrical portion on an outer periphery of the shaft portion, and a recessed portion in an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; a second rotating body capable of moving from the first rotating body while contacting an outer surface of the first rotating body and nipping a recording medium; a transport unit that includes a holding portion that holds the recording medium, and that transports the recording medium by moving the holding portion in a rotation direction of the first rotating body while the holding portion is disposed in the recessed portion; and a moving mechanism including a cam portion on a side of the cylindrical portion and a contact portion connected to the second rotating body and that comes into contact with the cam portion to separate the second rotating body from the first rotating body.

A machine for processing individual sheets comprises at least one processing station, in particular in inkjet printing station, and a transport system (100) for transporting the individual sheets through the processing station, along a transport direction. The transport system (100) comprises at least one gripper conveyor (150) movable along the transport direction, for gripping one of the individual sheets defining a sheet position in transport direction. The transport system (100) further comprises at least one support conveyor (190) movable along the transport direction for supporting a region of the individual sheet, wherein the support conveyor (190) comprises a vacuum system for supporting the individual sheet on an interacting surface of the support conveyor, the vacuum system comprising a plurality of orifices in the interacting surface. The machine allows for efficient and flexible handling of individual sheets, in particular large format sheets of materials such as corrugated cardboard or other materials that have a certain degree of inherent stability.

The present invention discloses gripper bar locking apparatus and sheet processing device. In particular, the present invention discloses a gripper bar locking apparatus, which is configured to lock and adjust a position of a gripper bar, comprising: a supporting plate having a distal end and a proximal end; a lever portion, a distal end of which is pivotally mounted on the proximal end of the supporting plate; a cartridge movably mounted on a proximal end of the lever portion and provided with a gripper bar abutment; and an adjusting means provided on the cartridge and configured to adjust a position of the cartridge with respect to the lever portion. Further, the present invention relates to the sheet processing device including the gripper bar. By using the gripper bar locking apparatus, the adjustment of the position of the gripper bar is facilitated.

An image forming apparatus includes plural rotating members that are rotatable; an annular circulating member that is wound around the plural rotating members and circulates when the rotating members rotate; a retaining member attached to an attaching portion of the circulating member and that circulates together with the circulating member, the retaining member being configured to retain a recording medium in an area where the attaching portion comes into contact with one of the rotating members; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position defined on a circulation path along which the circulating member circulates; a delivering unit that delivers the recording medium to a retaining position where the recording medium is to be retained by the retaining member; a detector that detects rotation of the one rotating member; and a controller that controls delivery of the recording medium from the delivering unit to the retaining position, the delivery being controlled with reference to information detected by the detector.

A sheet processing device has a moveable beam (36) that moves in the vertical direction, a gripper bar (30) for gripping a sheet that travels through the sheet processing device (10), and a gripper bar locking device (40) that can lock the gripper bar (30) in a precise position. The gripper bar locking device (40) has a locking lever (68) that is pivoting between a rest position and a locking position. The locking lever (68) is connected to a vertical linear guide coupled with the moveable beam (36) resulting in a precise, compact and simple system to lock the gripper bar.

The invention relates to a device (310) for holding a sheet-like element (10) during the stage of introducing it into a workstation (200, 300, 400) of a forming machine (1), such as a waste-ejection station (300), the said holding device (310) comprising a suction member (320) configured so as to partially retain each sheet (10) by its rear part during the stage when the said sheet (10) is introduced into the said workstation (200, 300, 400), characterized in that the suction member (320) has at least two motorized fans (13) with propellers (14) installed transversely at the entrance to the workstation (200, 300, 400), beneath the plane (P) along which the sheet-like elements move, the axes of rotation (A) of the propellers (14) of the fans (13) being substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane (P) along which the sheet-like elements move, the direction of rotation and the inclination of the propellers (14) being configured so as to generate a flow of air capable of applying suction to the rear of the lower face of the sheet-like element (10) during the stage in which the said sheet (10) is introduced into the said workstation (200, 300, 400).

A transportation device includes a transportation mechanism that, in a state in which a front end portion of a sheet is gripped, transports the sheet, a first guide that is arranged along a transportation path where the sheet is transported by the transportation mechanism, and that contacts a non-image surface of the sheet, a blowing device that presses the sheet that is being transported by the transportation mechanism against the first guide, and an attraction transportation portion that is arranged on a downstream side in a transportation direction of the sheet with respect to the first guide, that attracts the non-image surface of the sheet that is being transported in a state in which the sheet is pressed against the first guide, and that transports with the transportation mechanism the sheet in a state in which the non-image surface is attracted.

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.