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.

An apparatus for singling sheet goods which comprises a suction device with a stator and a rotor movable relative to the stator. The stator has at least one first opening and the rotor at least one second opening which overlap upon a rotation of the rotor and thereby define an opening area with a first end and a second end. The opening area extends starting from the first end up to the second end, wherein a section of the opening area between the first end and the second end forms a suction area in which sheet goods to be singled can be sucked by the suction device. The first end of the opening area is arranged spaced from the suction area so that arising noise can be dampened.

Methods and apparatus for transporting either an entire web or discrete components of disposable products such as diaper components down the machine using mechanical forces to grip the nonwoven web and transfer it from one belt or roll to another without or reducing added vacuum. There is a carrier nonwoven web that goes down the length of the machine and other substrates are added on top of this layer, and the machine provides sufficient gripping to allow transport of diaper components through the fabrication process. Securing and releasing forces are supplied so that the components can be retained at some points and released at others.

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 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.

Methods and apparatus for transporting either an entire web or discrete components of disposable products such as diaper components down the machine using mechanical forces to grip the nonwoven web and transfer it from one belt or roll to another without or reducing added vacuum. There is a carrier nonwoven web that goes down the length of the machine and other substrates are added on top of this layer, and the machine provides sufficient gripping to allow transport of diaper components through the fabrication process. Securing and releasing forces are supplied so that the components can be retained at some points and released at others.

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.

An image forming system includes a transport section that includes a support surface supporting a sheet-like medium and transports the medium while supporting the medium on the support surface, a first pressure generating section that generates pressure used to suck the medium supported on the support surface, and an image forming section that forms an image on the medium transported by the transport section. First suction holes that communicate with the first pressure generating section, first protrusions, and sealed portions that are disposed at positions where end portions of the medium in the medium width direction are supported and restrict inflow of air to regions, in which the first suction holes are arranged, from the outside of the end portions of the medium in the medium width direction are arranged on the support surface in a medium support region where the medium can be supported.

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.