The invention relates to a novel device and a novel method for transporting printable substrates in a precise manner, suitable for various types, sizes and thicknesses of substrate. The invention is also suitable for printing machines that do not come into contact with the substrate, such as ink-jet printing machines.

Examples include a processing machine for processing a substrate. At least one alignment segment is arranged before at least one processing unit of the processing machine. The at least one alignment segment includes a plurality of transport sections following one another in the transport direction. The at least one alignment segment includes a dedicated drive for axially adjusting at least one of the transport section. The at least one transport section includes at least one first transport sub-section and at least one second transport sub-section in the transverse direction. The first transport sub-section and the second transport sub-section are drivable relative to one another at differing speeds in the circumferential direction. The alignment segment includes a transport section that includes the dedicated drive for axially adjusting the transport section and the transport sub-sections that can be driven relative to one another at differing speeds.

Examples include activating at least one alignment segment of a processing machine. The at least one alignment segment is arranged before at least one processing unit of the processing machine that is activated. The at least one alignment segment includes a plurality of transport sections following one another in the transport direction. At least two transport sections, following one another in the transport direction, each have a basic position and at least one adjustment position. The at least one adjustment position in each case is offset relative to the basic position in the transverse direction. At least one transport section of the transport sections is axially adjusted. At least one dedicated drive axially adjusts the at least one transport section of the transport sections, and the at least one dedicated drive is designed as a direct drive.

An electrode stacking apparatus provided with a planar motor device (B) comprised of a flat plate-shaped stator (50) and a plurality of movers (40) able to move on a flat surface (51) of the stator in any direction along the flat surface (51) and able to rotate about a perpendicular axis of the flat surface (51) in a state magnetically floating from the flat surface (51). When stacking a new sheet-shaped electrode (1) held by an electrode conveyor device (A) arranged above the planar motor device (B) on a stacked electrode holder (60) of a mover (40), the mover (40) is made to move in synchronization with movement of the new sheet-shaped electrode (1) so that the new sheet-shaped electrode (1) continues to face the sheet-shaped electrode stacking position on the stacked electrode holder (60).

A storing and issuing module (10) including a storage roller (50), a motor (60) associated with the storage roller (50), at least one transport tape (52) configured to wrap onto the storage roller (50) together with flexible documents, such as banknotes, conveyed in a conveying section provided with holding means (53, 54) actuatable for engaging flexible documents to be stored or issued with the transport tape (52), wherein the storing and issuing module (50) is capable of handling large storage capacity thanks to a mechanical layout that minimizes variations in the conveying section despite the great variations of the outer diameter of the storage roller due to the large capacity thereof.

A power transmission apparatus includes a drive source, a power transmission switching section configured to switch between a transmission state in which power of the drive source is transmitted to a driven section and a non-transmission state in which power of the drive source is not transmitted to the driven section, a load switching section configured to switch between a first load state, which is a load while the driven section is driven, and a second load state, which is a load smaller than the load of the first load state, and a control section, wherein the control section switches the power transmission switching section from the non-transmission state to the transmission state while the load is in the second load state, and then uses the load switching section to switch the load from the second load state to the first load state.

An image forming apparatus includes: a main housing; a transfer roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a fixing device; a movable chute positioned between the transfer roller and the fixing device in a conveying direction; and a solenoid actuator. The movable chute is configured to guide the sheet, and is movable between: a first position; and a second position at which a downstream end in the conveying direction of the movable chute is positioned further downward relative to the downstream end of the movable chute positioned at the first position. The solenoid actuator is configured to cause the movable chute to move. The main housing includes: a first frame positioned further toward one side in the first direction relative to the movable chute and supporting the solenoid actuator; and a second frame positioned further toward another side in the first direction relative to the movable chute.