An image forming device includes an image forming unit to form an image on a work, a conveyance unit to convey the work in a predetermined conveyance direction, a conveyance guide member, a suction unit, and a suction control unit. The conveyance guide member is a plate-shaped member which has a plurality of suction holes and guides conveyance of the work by the conveyance unit from below. The suction unit includes a suction device which generates suction air by sucking air in a space on an upper side of the conveyance guide member via the plurality of suction holes, and closely contacts the work to the conveyance guide member by the suction air. The suction control unit changes a sucking force of the suction device according to a length in the work width direction of the work guided by the conveyance guide member.

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 gripper assembly for recovering a layout (22) from a sheet material (12) is presented. It comprises a vacuum gripper (26) with a gripper body (32) on which an array of air flow openings (34a, 34b) is arranged. Air flow openings (34a) associated with one or more blanks (20) of the layout (22) are selectively open and air flow openings (34b) associated to waste (28) of the sheet material (12) are selectively closed. Additionally, an apparatus for recovering a layout (22) from a sheet material (12) comprising such a gripper assembly is described. Furthermore, a method for separating a layout (22) from waste (28) of a sheet material (12) is explained.

A sheet suction device includes a drum including multiple suction holes in a circumferential surface of the drum, the drum configured to bear a sheet on the circumferential surface and rotate, a suction device configured to suck the sheet through the multiple suction holes, a rotary valve between the multiple suction holes of the drum and the suction device, the rotary valve configured to rotate relative to the drum to change a number of the multiple suction holes communicating with the suction device, and a driver configured to relatively rotate the drum and the rotary valve.

A printing apparatus includes a printing head; an airflow generating unit; a first flow path that includes a one-side end coupled to the airflow generating unit and an another-side end coupled to a first discharge port and through which the airflow passes; and a peeling unit configured to partially peel the label from the base sheet. When, the label partially peeled from the base sheet by the peeling unit, at least a portion of a peeled portion peeled from the base sheet is at a position not overlapping with the peeling unit in plan view and a non-peeled portion not peeled from the base sheet is in a state of overlapping with the peeling unit in plan view, the first discharge port is disposed at such a position that the airflow outputted from the first discharge port hits the back surface of the peeled portion.

A holder assembly includes a base, a drive assembly coupled to the base, a motive source connected to the drive assembly, a vertical force applicator connected to the drive assembly along a connection edge thereof, and a gripping member coupled to the base, the gripping member having a contact surface coupled to a vacuum source, wherein the drive assembly has a first position with the flattening member engaged with the contact surface and a second position with the flattening member positioned away from the contact surface.

An apparatus and method of conveying parts underneath an array of inkjet printheads in such a way as to minimize print defects caused by variation in motion. The conveyor is composed of a series of rigid conveyor track segments that are forced to move in a precise straight line due to a combination of accurate ball bearing wheel assemblies and precision machine guideways that are incorporated into the conveying system.

A vacuum roller system and a method of operation the vacuum roller system can include an assembly of interdigitated rollers, and a vacuum system, wherein the assembly of interdigitated rollers is operably connected to the vacuum system to move sheets of media through a downstream dryer in a printer, wherein a vacuum is drawn between individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers so that the vacuum is distributed across a sheet of media and is split around the individual rollers. The spacing between the individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers is variable to vary the vacuum.

A sheet suction device includes a drum including multiple suction holes in a circumferential surface of the drum, the drum configured to bear a sheet on the circumferential surface and rotate, a suction device configured to suck the sheet through the multiple suction holes, a rotary valve between the multiple suction holes of the drum and the suction device, the rotary valve configured to rotate relative to the drum to change a number of the multiple suction holes communicating with the suction device, and a driver configured to relatively rotate the drum and the rotary valve.

A sheet suction device includes a sheet carrier, a suction unit, and a rotary body. The sheet carrier has a carrying region. The carrying region includes a plurality of suction openings. The sheet carrier is configured to rotate while holding a sheet. The suction unit is configured to communicate with the plurality of suction openings and suck air via the plurality of suction openings. The rotary body is disposed between the plurality of suction openings and the suction unit. The rotary body is configured to rotate to change a number of suction openings that communicate with the suction unit, among the plurality of suction openings of the sheet carrier.