Suction roller structure for the pneumatic transport of sheets inside an interfolding unit, comprising a suction source, an external roller (3) rotating with respect to the cylinder (1) and provided with longitudinal rows of bores (4) angularly spaced and selectively communicating with said internal cavity (2) during the angular rotation of the roller (3), a distribution of pneumatic valves (5) that are normally closed, inserted between said internal cavity (2) and at least one bore (4), cam means (6) operatively associated with the rotation of the roller (3) and arranged to open one or more of said valves (5) at one or more angular positions taken by the roller (3).

A reeling shaft transfer rail system has two parallel substantially horizontal or slightly sloped rails for supporting the ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). Hoses are arranged on each of the transfer rails (15) and filled or drained to move and hold the reeling shaft (20). In a method of transferring reeling shafts on transfer rails, the reeling shafts (20) are transferred on two parallel, substantially horizontal or slightly downstream of a main transfer direction inclined transfer rails (15) for supporting each of the supporting ends (25) of a reeling shaft (20). The reeling shafts (20) are transferred or positioned in the reeling shaft transfer rail system (10) by pressurizing hoses (17) arranged on each of the transfer rails. The hoses are arranged so fluid added to or withdrawn from the hoses pushes or holds the reeling shaft (20) on the transfer rails (15).

A roller for a transport belt of a vacuum transport assembly includes an elongate cylindrical body adapted for a rotatably fixed connection to a vacuum transport assembly. An outer surface of the roller defines a hollow inner channel, which extends along an axial region of the body. The outer surface is a running surface for a transport belt. An inlet at one end of the hollow inner channel receives air from an air source. Perforations are formed in the outer surface for allowing air pressure to be discharged from the hollow inner channel toward the transport belt. The air diffuses through the transport belt to detack a sheet from the transport belt.

A transport device transports an individualized sheet-shaped workpiece. The transport device includes: an annular transport belt having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and having a plurality of suction holes extending between the first surface and the second surface; first and second decompression chambers arranged along a moving direction of the transport belt; and a vacuum degree adjusting mechanism provided in the first decompression chamber and adjusting a vacuum degree in the first decompression chamber. The first and second decompression chambers each abut against the second surface, and each suction the workpiece through at least one of the plurality of suction holes toward the first surface such that the transport belt is capable of transporting the workpiece in the moving direction in a suspended state from the first surface.

In a reel assembly, a repositionable level wind may be selectively coupled to a drum to enable powered rotation of the level wind from a first position to a second position. In some embodiments, the assembly may include two arced guide rails, a rotating adjustment arm, a roller bracket, a winding assembly and two fork plates, which may be adjustably mounted on the drum. In operation, the fork plates may be moved to an engaged position that couples the adjustment arm and the roller bracket to the reel flanges so that rotation of the reel causes the winding assembly to be rotated along the guide rails. Once a desired position is reached, the adjustment arm and roller bracket may be bolted to the guide rails and the fork plates may be moved to a disengaged position to allow the reel to rotate independently of the winding assembly.

A substrate support system 10 for a conveyor printer is provided, comprising a support unit 100 comprising a plurality of vacuum apertures 108 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of negative pressure. The support unit 100 also comprises at least one air bearing 114 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of positive pressure. The air bearing 114 comprises porous media 116. The substrate support system 10 also comprises a conveyor belt 150 arranged over the support unit 100 for supporting a substrate 170 to be printed on. The conveyor belt 150 comprises a plurality of belt apertures. The vacuum apertures 108 are arranged to convey a negative pressure through the belt apertures for retaining the substrate 170 on the conveyor belt 150. The at least one air bearing 114 is arranged to convey a positive pressure to support the conveyor belt 150.

A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, includes a sheet loader, an air drawing body, an attracting and conveying device, an air duct and a blocking device. The sheet loader is a device on which a bundle of sheets is loaded. The air drawing body is configured to generate suction air. The attracting and conveying device is configured to attract a sheet on top of the bundle of sheets by the suction air and convey the sheet. The air duct is configured to intake the suction air drawn by the air drawing body, to the attracting and conveying device. The blocking device is configured to block the suction air in the air duct.

A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly and a media transport assembly. The ink deposition assembly comprises a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid to a deposition region of the ink deposition assembly. The media transport assembly comprises a vacuum source and a movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises valves having holes through the media support surface. The media transport assembly is configured to hold one or more print media against the movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated from the vacuum source through valves. The valves are each configured to transition between a closed state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is prevented and an open state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is allowed.

A medium transport device 29, a liquid ejection device 13, and a post-process device 15 include a recording path 38; a first transport path 40 arranged downstream of the recording path 38; an inversion path 39 arranged downstream of the recording path 38; a first branch section 51; and a blower section 50 configured to transport the medium 19 to either the first transport path 40 or the inversion path 39, wherein when a medium 19 that is transported first is defined as a first medium and a medium 19 that is transported subsequently to the first medium is defined as a second medium, in a case where the blower section 50 switches a transport destination between the first medium and the second medium, the blower section 50 starts the switching operation while the first medium is passing through the first branch section 51.

A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, includes a sheet loader, an air drawing body, an attracting and conveying device, an air duct and a blocking device. The sheet loader is a device on which a bundle of sheets is loaded. The air drawing body is configured to generate suction air. The attracting and conveying device is configured to attract a sheet on top of the bundle of sheets by the suction air and convey the sheet. The air duct is configured to intake the suction air drawn by the air drawing body, to the attracting and conveying device. The blocking device is configured to block the suction air in the air duct.