A roller which has woven fabric at a surface thereof and which is employed in an apparatus permitting achievement of conservation of resources, conservation of energy. Roller 1 provided with covering 3 includes woven fabric at its surface is idler means or drive means for conveying, supply, of an object, means for air cooling or drying a moving object, rotating means making use of suction of an object, or is for cleaning a contact surface to which roller 1 is opposed, and has at the surface woven fabric 2 with variation or combination of weave pattern(s). The woven fabric 2 includes weaving in a linear pattern of bands or different patterns. It also has open holes including lattice-like gaps 8 or a rectangular pattern 6 for control of air permeability formed from weft yarn 25 and warp yarn 26.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for uncut material detection while lifting from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material. The apparatus comprises a structured energy source and a structured energy sensor. The structured energy can be used to detect undesired lifting of a peripheral portion of the flexible material resulting from the presence of uncut material.

A roller has knit fabric at its surface and which is employed in an apparatus permitting achievement of conservation of resources, conservation of energy, and low cost, and an apparatus employing such a roller. Roller 1 covered with covering 3 including knit fabric at its surface causes conveyance, supply, or other such movement of an object, or uses an to dry or cool an object as it is moved, or rotates while causing an object to be subjected to suction. Knit fabric 3a covering the roller surface has gaps having air permeability and steps 6 comprising stripes in a pattern of bands at the front and back surfaces; the stripes in the pattern of bands are perpendicular to the direction of rotation at the surface of the rotating support body 2. Loops making up knit fabric 3a have domains of small loops 4c and large loops 4b.

A device for overlapping sheets includes at least one blower box and a supply table. Multiple sheets are guided into a region of the blower box consecutively, in the same transport direction, and are arranged at a distance from one another on the supply table. A blower nozzle is arranged in the blower box, on the side thereof facing the supply table. A blowing direction of the blower nozzle is oriented and parallel to the supply table and against the transport direction of the sheets. The supply table is arranged below the blower box and multiple blower nozzles are arranged in the blower box, one after the other, in the transport direction of the sheets, on the side thereof facing the supply table. A respective blowing direction of the blower nozzles is oriented in parallel to the supply table, and against the transport direction of the sheets.

A vacuum wheel for transporting a substrate includes a fixed conduit that is connectable to a suction source. A vacuum surface on a circumference of the vacuum wheel includes vacuum openings that are distributed around the circumference, such that rotation of the wheel causes the vacuum openings to successively fluidically connect to the fixed conduit. When suction is applied to the fixed conduit, suction is applied to one or more of the vacuum openings that are currently fluidically connected to the fixed conduit. At least one contact surface on the circumference of the vacuum wheel is adjacent to, and extends outward beyond, the vacuum surface. When suction is applied to the vacuum openings, the substrate is drawn toward the vacuum surface so as to contact the contact surface without contacting the vacuum surface, creating a friction force that enables transport of the substrate when the wheel rotates.

A vacuum wheel for transporting a substrate includes a fixed conduit that is connectable to a suction source. A vacuum surface on a circumference of the vacuum wheel includes vacuum openings that are distributed around the circumference, such that rotation of the wheel causes the vacuum openings to successively fluidically connect to the fixed conduit. When suction is applied to the fixed conduit, suction is applied to one or more of the vacuum openings that are currently fluidically connected to the fixed conduit. At least one contact surface on the circumference of the vacuum wheel is adjacent to, and extends outward beyond, the vacuum surface. When suction is applied to the vacuum openings, the substrate is drawn toward the vacuum surface so as to contact the contact surface without contacting the vacuum surface, creating a friction force that enables transport of the substrate when the wheel rotates.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.

A device for processing substrates improves processing quality during separation or punching of such substrates. The device has a first processing cylinder and a second processing cylinder for treating substrates, and between which the substrate can be inserted. The substrate undergoes processing as it passes through the cylinder nip between the processing cylinders by use of tool parts that are active therein, and which may be chosen from a group composed of cutting tools, punching tools, creasing tools, perforating tools and grooving tools. The first processing cylinder has a sheet holding system and one of the first processing cylinder and the second processing cylinder has a tool carrier for receiving a tool part. An impression cylinder, which is in surface contact with the second processing cylinder, is assigned to the second processing cylinder, on the side thereof that faces away from the first processing cylinder.