A system for handling sheets of flexible material. The system comprises a first roller (5.2) which comprises a plurality of first releasable connectors (3.2) and a second roller (5.3) which comprises a plurality of second releasable connectors. The system further comprises an array of third releasable connectors (2.1) which is displaceable between at least the first and second rollers (5.2, 5.3). The first, second and third releasable connectors releasably attach to a sheet of flexible material in use.

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus that separates and efficiently captures from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material in an orderly manner which prevents damage to the selected piece while preventing the undesired lifting or movement of the surrounding material. The apparatus comprises a pick head assembly including a cylinder with a plurality of orifices that communicates with the selected piece to maintain contact between the selected piece and the cylindrical surface while the selected piece is being removed.

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 relates to a device for treating substrates which device is modular and versatile in use. The device for treating substrates comprises a feeder and one or more first sub-structure modules which each comprise a pressure cylinder with devices for fixing a lift and a sheet-conveying device and one or more second sub-structure modules which respectively have a transport cylinder with openings formed on the cover surface thereof, and having devices for fixing a lift and a sheet conveying device. All of the first or second sub-structure modules have the same intersection point for connecting the sub-structure modules on one of the inlet and the exit side and they all can be equipped with an attachment module.

An interfolding machine produces interfolded sheets according to an interfolding configuration and, starting from a web of paper provides a feeding section, which applies a tension on the web and moves the same along a feeding direction feeding the same to a cutting section, in which the web of paper is cut into a series of sheets at a cutting point between a cutting roller and a counter-cutting element. Downstream of the cutting section, a folding section includes a first and a second folding rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The first and second folding rollers rotate about respective rotation axes with a first peripheral velocity vP, and fold, at a folding zone, a plurality of sheets in a plurality of panels and form the stack of interfolded sheets. The cutting roller alternately distributes the aforementioned sheets between a transfer roller and the first folding roller.

A method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element is disclosed. 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 invention provides a fiber product folding and stacking system comprising at least one folding wheel, a plurality of suction channels, a plurality of valves and a plurality of passages. The folding wheel includes a plurality of protruding wheels and a plurality of recessing wheels. The protruding wheels and the recessing wheels are adjacent to each other, and suction channels are arranged within the protruding wheels. The passages are disposed in the folding wheel and are fluidly connected to the suction channel. The valves are disposed within the recessing wheels of the folding wheel, and include a connecting opening, a valve channel and a valve opening. When the folding wheel rotates, portion of the suction channels will be fluidly connected to the valve channel through the passage and the valve opening to generate a negative pressure thereon for absorbing the fiber product.

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 device for manufacturing fibrous board has a board carrier and a plurality of at least four cutting tools for separating a fibrous material, in particular strand-shaped or tape-shaped fibrous material into portions, and for depositing the portions. The board carrier is displaceable below the depositing cutting tools here through in at least one movement direction. The depositing cutting tools are substantially stationary and are disposed beside one another in such a manner that the portions of these depositing cutting tools may be simultaneously deposited beside one another on the board carrier.

A system for cutting a web material and applying the web material on a substrate. The system comprises a feed roll configured to advance a web material. The system includes an anvil roll configured to receive the web material from the feed roll and provide a section of web material having a defined length. The system includes a cutting element configured to cut the web material to form the section of web material. The anvil roll is configured such that the anvil roll surface advances at an anvil roll surface speed. The feed roll is configured to rotate at a first feed roll surface speed that is slower than the anvil roll surface speed and a second feed roll surface speed that is substantially the same as the anvil roll surface speed when the cutting element cuts the web material.