A sheet processing machine has at least one shaping device and at least one sheet delivery unit, arranged downstream of the at least one shaping device along a transport path provided for a transport of sheets. The at least one shaping device has at least one shaping point which is formed by at least one forme cylinder, on one hand, and at least one impression cylinder, on the other hand. At least one separation device, for removing scrap pieces from sheets, is arranged downstream of the at least one shaping point along the transport path provided for the transport of sheets. The at least one separation device has at least one separation transport device. At least one transport device, configured as a selective transport device, is arranged following the at least one separation transport device along the transport path provided for the transport of sheets. The transport device is configured as at least one upper suction transport device for a hanging transport of sheets.

A sheet processing machine has at least one shaping device and at least one sheet delivery unit, arranged downstream of the at least one shaping device along a transport path provided for a transport of sheets. The at least one shaping device has at least one shaping point which is formed by at least one forme cylinder, on one hand, and at least one impression cylinder, on the other hand. At least one separation device, for removing scrap pieces from sheets, is arranged downstream of the at least one shaping point along the transport path provided for the transport of sheets. The at least one separation device has at least one separation transport device. At least one transport device, configured as a selective transport device, is arranged following the at least one separation transport device along the transport path provided for the transport of sheets. The transport device is configured as at least one upper suction transport device for a hanging transport of sheets.

A sheet delivery unit has at least one rear sheet stop. The sheet delivery unit has at least one forward stack limiter. The sheet delivery unit has at least one upper sheet transportation system, designed for hanging transportation of sheets, with at least one imbrication device for the imbricated, hanging transportation of at least two sheets. A sheet processing machine is also disclosed. A method is disclosed for operating a sheet processing machine. Processed substrate in the form of a sequence of sheets spaced apart from one another in a transportation direction, is supplied in this transportation directed to a sheet delivery unit of the sheet processing machine. At least during a sheet braking procedure, at least at times, at least two sheets are guided in a hanging manner by the use of an upper sheet transportation system, configured for the hanging transportation of sheets, of the sheet delivery unit, and are transported in an imbricated arrangement at least also in the transportation direction.

A sheet delivery unit has at least one rear sheet stop. The sheet delivery unit has at least one forward stack limiter. The sheet delivery unit has at least one upper sheet transportation system, designed for hanging transportation of sheets, with at least one imbrication device for the imbricated, hanging transportation of at least two sheets. A sheet processing machine is also disclosed. A method is disclosed for operating a sheet processing machine. Processed substrate in the form of a sequence of sheets spaced apart from one another in a transportation direction, is supplied in this transportation directed to a sheet delivery unit of the sheet processing machine. At least during a sheet braking procedure, at least at times, at least two sheets are guided in a hanging manner by the use of an upper sheet transportation system, configured for the hanging transportation of sheets, of the sheet delivery unit, and are transported in an imbricated arrangement at least also in the transportation direction.

A substrate printing system is disclosed having a perforated conveyor belt adapted for transporting on the same a substrate to be printed, wherein the perforated conveyor belt has a set of perforations; a perforated grill which has a set of perforations and which is configured such that the perforated conveyor belt can be moved over the perforated grill; and a suction chamber which has a suction element, the suction chamber being in communication with the perforated conveyor belt and with the perforated grill such that the suction flow created by the suction element is adapted for passing through perforations of the perforated conveyor belt and of the perforated grill to secure the substrate to the perforated conveyor belt.

A conveying apparatus includes a conveyor and a conveyed object receptor. The conveyor includes a conveyance surface facing downward and configured to convey a conveyed object having a sheet-like shape. The conveyed object receptor is arranged below the conveyor and configured to receive the conveyed object having fallen from the conveyor.

System and methods for manipulating and sorting of objects being moved along a conveyor are disclosed, whereby control of the object is achieved through the application of one or more of vacuum, impaling, or mechanical grasping. One embodiment is directed to a robotic arm and vision detection system operable for detecting a target object to be grasped from a stream of objects being moved on a conveyor, and moving a suction head into position over the target object that has been detected on the conveyor, the suction head having a flexible cup section disposed at a distal end thereof, the vacuum item pick-up system/method using high subsonic air flow (e.g., on the order of 60 scfm or more) through a suction cup having a flow opening area large enough that an airflow of 60 scfm does not result in an airspeed exceeding Mach 0.2 under standard conditions of temperature and pressure, and further having a flow opening area whose ratio to cup opening area falls between 0.36 and 1.44 for applying a desired vacuum suction force for grasping the target object. Either as a primary grasping mechanism, or as an optional supplemental grasping mechanism, a piercing mechanism may be inserted into the object and used to manipulate the object in space. Alternate systems/methods for manipulating and sorting objects via hitting, flicking, or pushing are also disclosed.

System and methods for manipulating and sorting of objects being moved along a conveyor are disclosed, whereby control of the object is achieved through the application of one or more of vacuum, impaling, or mechanical grasping. One embodiment is directed to a robotic arm and vision detection system operable for detecting a target object to be grasped from a stream of objects being moved on a conveyor, and moving a suction head into position over the target object that has been detected on the conveyor, the suction head having a flexible cup section disposed at a distal end thereof, the vacuum item pick-up system/method using high subsonic air flow (e.g., on the order of 60 scfm or more) through a suction cup having a flow opening area large enough that an airflow of 60 scfm does not result in an airspeed exceeding Mach 0.2 under standard conditions of temperature and pressure, and further having a flow opening area whose ratio to cup opening area falls between 0.36 and 1.44 for applying a desired vacuum suction force for grasping the target object. Either as a primary grasping mechanism, or as an optional supplemental grasping mechanism, a piercing mechanism may be inserted into the object and used to manipulate the object in space. Alternate systems/methods for manipulating and sorting objects via hitting, flicking, or pushing are also disclosed.

Two-dimensional material sheets are stacked in a stacking device. One of a printing machine and a coating machine has at least one stacking unit having a stacking space. Material sheets are conveyed, via the stacking space of the stacking unit, comprised by the stacking device, and are deposited into a stack on top of one another on a loading aid. For two different production runs, the stacks are formed on the loading aid with the four corners of their areas in mutually different relative orientations with respect to the loading aid, which is arranged, in each case, in the stacking space of the stacking unit and is larger-format compared with the material sheets to be deposited in each case. For the two production runs, in each case, one loading aid of the same format is positioned on different positions, as seen in projection in the horizontal, in the stacking space of the stacking unit.

A conveying apparatus includes a conveyor and a conveyed object receptor. The conveyor includes a conveyance surface facing downward and configured to convey a conveyed object having a sheet-like shape. The conveyed object receptor is arranged below the conveyor and configured to receive the conveyed object having fallen from the conveyor.