In one example, a media support with a continuous belt rotatable and suction cups lengthwise along the belt and in lines laterally across the belt to hold down a sheet of print media as the sheet is moved through a hold down area, a vacuum pump to supply vacuum to the suction cups. The vacuum control system is configured to close a supply of vacuum to all of the suction cups in the hold down area and then open the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of multiple lines of suction cups as each line enters the hold down area and then close the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of the multiple lines of suction cups as each line leaves the hold down area until all of the suction cups in the hold down area are closed.

In one example, a media support includes a continuous loop belt and multiple suction cups arranged along the outer perimeter of the belt. Each suction cup has a port aligned with a hole in the belt so that air may be evacuated from the suction cup when connected to a vacuum source.

A sheet suction device includes a bearing member configured to bear a sheet on a circumferential surface of the bearing member and rotate, a plurality of suction holes in a bearing region in the circumferential surface of the bearing member, a suction device connected to the plurality of suction holes, the suction device configured to suck the sheet through the plurality of suction holes, and a rotary valve between the bearing member and the suction device. The rotary valve includes: a first member communicating with the suction device, and a second member contacting the first member, the second member communicating with the plurality of suction holes. The first member includes a first groove on a side surface in a circumferential direction of the first member, the first groove communicating with the suction device.

A sheet suction device includes a bearing member configured to bear a sheet on a circumferential surface of the bearing member and rotate, a plurality of suction holes in a bearing region in the circumferential surface of the bearing member, a suction device connected to the plurality of suction holes, the suction device configured to suck the sheet through the plurality of suction holes, and a rotary valve between the bearing member and the suction device. The rotary valve includes: a first member communicating with the suction device, and a second member contacting the first member, the second member communicating with the plurality of suction holes. The first member includes a first groove on a side surface in a circumferential direction of the first member, the first groove communicating with the suction device.

A sheet suction device includes a sheet bearer having a plurality of suction holes on a plurality of bearing areas, a rotational portion having a plurality of holes that is connectable to the plurality of suction holes, a suction unit configured to suck air via the plurality of holes of the rotational portion. The sheet bearer bears a plurality of sheets on the plurality of bearing areas of the circumferential surface of the sheet bearer and rotates. The rotational portion rotates in a same cycle of the sheet bearer. The sheet suction device further includes a switching unit that switches combinations of whether or not to suck the air among the plurality of bearing areas of the sheet bearer according to a phase of rotation of the sheet bearer or the rotational portion.

A sheet suction device includes a bearing member configured to bear a sheet on a circumferential surface of the bearing member and rotate in a first direction, a plurality of suction holes in a bearing region in the circumferential surface of the bearing member, a suction device connected to the plurality of suction holes, the suction device configured to suck the sheet through the plurality of suction holes, and a first member between the plurality of suction holes and the suction device, the first member rotatable in a second direction different from the first direction to change a suction region of the suction device connected to the plurality of suction holes. A rotation of the first member in the second direction expands the suction region of the suction device in the bearing region of the bearing member.

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 suction roll of a web, or sheet, of paper, includes a tubular body that rotates about a longitudinal rotation axis. External and internal lateral surfaces of the suction roll pneumatically communicate with each other through suction holes. The roll includes a suction chamber pneumatically connected to a vacuum generation device for generating a predetermined vacuum degree. A vacuum distribution device selectively puts into pneumatic communication the suction chamber with at least one row of suction holes, at determined angular positions of the tubular body and causes the processed sheet or web of paper to be sucked, and to adhere at a corresponding portion of the external lateral surface arranged between a catching point and a releasing point having determined angular positions. A displacement device moves the vacuum distribution device to change the angular position of the catching or releasing point of the web or sheet of paper.

The invention provides a fiber product suction system, comprising a folding wheel and a plurality of valves. The folding wheel comprises a plurality of protruding wheels and a plurality of recessing wheels adjacent each other. A plurality of suction channels and at least one connecting channel are disposed within the protruding wheel, wherein the connecting channel is fluidly connected to the suction channel. The valve is disposed on the recessing wheel of the folding wheel, and includes a connecting opening, a valve channel and a plurality of valve openings, wherein the valve openings are disposed on two sides of the valve, and are fluidly connected to the connecting opening via the valve channel. An air extractor can extract the gas in each suction channel through the valve, and generate a negative pressure on part of suction channels of the protruding wheel, so that the fiber product suction system can be used to suck and fold paper.

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.