A system may include a robotic arm and a Bernoulli cup assembly powered by a vacuum source and coupled to the robotic arm. The Bernoulli cup assembly may lift a document, and the robotic arm may move the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document to a document scanner for imaging the document. The system may further include an input bin, a base supported by a platform and disposed over an imaging surface of the document scanner, and an output bin. A method may include lifting a document from an input bin via suction pressure using a Bernoulli cup assembly, robotically moving the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document to a document scanner, and scanning the document. The method may further include robotically moving the Bernoulli cup assembly with the lifted document away from the document scanner, and de-activating the suction pressure to release the document.

A device and a method for separating sheet material is provided. The separation of sheet material is not effected statically, but a suitable pick-up position and/or a suitable pick-up mechanism is selected for each sheet material piece, for example in dependence on the quality of a surface of the sheet material piece to be picked up, in order to pick up the sheet material piece from the sheet material stack and remove it from the same.

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

A device and a method for separating sheet material is provided. The separation of sheet material is not effected statically, but a suitable pick-up position and/or a suitable pick-up mechanism is selected for each sheet material piece, for example in dependence on the quality of a surface of the sheet material piece to be picked up, in order to pick up the sheet material piece from the sheet material stack and remove it from the same.

A method of manufacturing a transfer assembly for transferring articles from a first moving carrier to a second moving carrier is provided. The method comprises providing a programmable motor and a motor control system. The motor control system and the programmable motor define an excitation frequency. The method comprises providing a carrier member comprising a housing comprising a wall and shifting a natural frequency of the carrier member by forming the wall with a first carbon fiber layer having a first fiber orientation extending in a first direction and with a second carbon fiber layer having a second fiber orientation extending in a second direction that is different than the first direction. The shifting the natural frequency establishes the natural frequency of the carrier member to be at least 1.1 times greater than or at least 1.1 times less than the excitation frequency.

Methods and apparatuses for moving and/or transferring discrete articles are described. In particular, the methods and apparatuses relate to flexible arrangements to move and/or transfer discrete articles that vary in size and/or shape with minimal to no change in equipment.

A vacuum box for a vacuum belt conveyor system for conveying a veneer sheet is provided, the vacuum box comprises a housing having a top plate, wall plates, a bottom plate and end plates, wherein at least one opening is arranged between the bottom plate of the housing and each of the wall plates of the housing along a length of the vacuum box and wherein a shape of the bottom plate is such that edge areas of the bottom plate are further away from an imaginary plane on which the veneer sheet is conveyable than a middle area of the bottom plate. A vacuum belt conveyor system is also provided.

An apparatus includes a transfer mechanism that transfers discrete articles to a receiving member. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer pucks that carry discrete articles thereon. Each of the transfer pucks includes a puck body with an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum. The article carrying surface includes a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body. Each of the transfer pucks also includes one or more resilient puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each puck insert engaged with the puck body in a respective side region. The puck inserts are sized to protrude above the article carrying surface and are depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.

A device and a method for separating sheet material is provided. The separation of sheet material is not effected statically, but a suitable pick-up position and/or a suitable pick-up mechanism is selected for each sheet material piece, for example in dependence on the quality of a surface of the sheet material piece to be picked up, in order to pick up the sheet material piece from the sheet material stack and remove it from the same.

The present invention concerns a device for handling flat elements for a printing machine (M), the device comprising a supporting structure (12) defining a supporting surface (14) and at least one arm (22) provided with pick-up means (24), configured to grip a flat element and to move it between the supporting surface (14) and loading and unloading positions and to turn said flat element over if necessary.