A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.

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 sheet delivery system includes: a joining unit configured to join, to an intermediate section of a sheet being delivered from a delivery-side original material roll, an end section of a sheet of a standby-side original material roll; and an operation robot configured to retrieve the end section of the sheet from the standby-side original material roll and convey the end section of the sheet to the joining unit. The sheet delivery system is configured to set, in advance, a sheet retrieval position at which the sheet is retrieved from each of the original material rolls, for each of the original material rolls. The operation robot is configured to convey the end section of the sheet from each of the sheet retrieval positions to the joining unit.

A sheet-transporting element includes suction openings for holding print sheets, longitudinal sliders including air passages, and transverse sliders including air passages. The longitudinal sliders and the transverse sliders are disposed in a cross-wise configuration and are movable into different positions corresponding to various sheet formats in the positions blocking selected ones of the suction openings.

A unit for applying first and second tabs, obtained from first and second webs, to a chassis web includes an applicator drum rotatable about an axis and including a main body. A plurality of carriers is movable between a lowered position close to the axis and a raised position away from the axis, each including a suction portion. A first carrier first suction and non-suction portions aligned along the axis. A second carrier includes second suction and non-suction portions aligned along the axis. The first suction portions alternate with the second non-suction portions and the first non-suction portions alternate with the second suction portions. A first system holds the first web on the applicator drum upstream of a cutting device. A second system holds the second web on the drum upstream of the cutting device.

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.

An object is to control the position of a fiber bundle on a roller of a guide assembly in a filament winding apparatus. There is provided a filament winding apparatus that winds a fiber bundle consisting of a plurality of fibers on an outer surface of a liner and comprises a fiber feeder configured to feed the fiber bundle; and a guide assembly including a roller configured to guide the fiber bundle fed by the fiber feeder to the outer surface of the liner while making the fiber bundle in contact with the roller. The roller comprises a suction hole configured to suck the outside air and is provided in at least a surface of the roller that is to be in contact with the fiber bundle; and a suction unit configured to suck the outside air from the suction hole with such a suction force that draws the fiber bundle in contact with the roller.

A sheet-transporting element includes suction openings for holding print sheets, longitudinal sliders including air passages, and transverse sliders including air passages. The longitudinal sliders and the transverse sliders are disposed in a cross-wise configuration and are movable into different positions corresponding to various sheet formats in the positions blocking selected ones of the suction openings.

The negative pressure roll 1 is provided with a rotating shaft 2, an internal cylinder 3, an intermediate cylinder 4 and a multi-layered non-woven fabric laminated outer layer 5. Further, the rotating shaft 2 is a member at the center of rotation of the negative pressure roll 1 and connected to the internal cylinder 3 by a reinforcement circular disk 9. Still further, the internal cylinder 3 is formed in a tubular shape and rotates together with the rotating shaft 2. In addition, the rotating shaft 2 and the internal cylinder 3 correspond to a rotating main body. Further, the intermediate cylinder 4 is a cylindrical tubular material formed outside the internal cylinder 3 and rotates in association with the rotating shaft 2 and the internal cylinder 3. Still further, the multi-layered non-woven fabric laminated outer layer 5 is formed outside the intermediate cylinder 4 and given as a part at which the negative pressure roll 1 is in contact with the metal strip 13. The multi-layered non-woven fabric laminated outer layer 5 also rotates in association with the rotating shaft 2, the internal cylinder 3 and the intermediate cylinder 4. In addition, the negative pressure roll 1 is provided with a controller 6 for suppressing rotation of the negative pressure roll 1.

A sheet delivery system includes: a joining unit which joins, to an intermediate section of a sheet being delivered from a delivery-side original material roll, an end section of a sheet W of a standby-side original material roll; and an operation robot which retrieves the end section of the sheet from the standby-side original material roll and which conveys the end section of the sheet to the joining unit. The sheet delivery system sets, in advance, a sheet retrieval position at which the sheet is retrieved from each of the original material rolls, for each of the original material rolls. The operation robot is configured to convey the end section of the sheet from each of the sheet retrieval positions to the joining unit.