An interfolding machine (1) is described, including folding rollers (3). Such a roller has a cylindrical sleeve (3C) having a rotation axis (3A), an outer surface (3X) and an inner surface (3Y) defining an inner axial cavity (23) of the cylindrical sleeve (3C). The cylindrical sleeve includes, furthermore, a plurality of suction holes (41, 43) which extend from the outer surface (3X) to the inner surface (3Y) of the cylindrical sleeve (3C). The suction holes are arranged depending on longitudinal alignments (42, 44), parallel to the rotation axis (3A) of the cylindrical sleeve (3C) and angularly staggered in relation to one another. Inside a suction chamber (23A) in the cylindrical sleeve (3C), shutters are stationarily arranged having closing surfaces (37A) cooperating with the inner surface (3Y) of the cylindrical sleeve (3C) to selectively close the suction holes.

A feeding device includes a plurality of suction units, disposed above a conveyed medium stacked on a stacker, to attract the conveyed medium. At least one of the plurality of suction units includes a rotary fan including a board and a plurality of walls extending from the board; and a driver to rotate the rotary fan. The at least one of the plurality of suction units generates a vortex air with a side of the board with the plurality of walls directed to the conveyed medium. The at least one of the plurality of suction units being a suction unit generates a vortex air.

A substrate support system 10 for a conveyor printer is provided, comprising a support unit 100 comprising a plurality of vacuum apertures 108 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of negative pressure. The support unit 100 also comprises at least one air bearing 114 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of positive pressure. The air bearing 114 comprises porous media 116. The substrate support system 10 also comprises a conveyor belt 150 arranged over the support unit 100 for supporting a substrate 170 to be printed on. The conveyor belt 150 comprises a plurality of belt apertures. The vacuum apertures 108 are arranged to convey a negative pressure through the belt apertures for retaining the substrate 170 on the conveyor belt 150. The at least one air bearing 114 is arranged to convey a positive pressure to support the conveyor belt 150.

Methods and apparatuses for moving and/or transferring discrete articles are described. In particular, the methods and apparatuses relate to flexible arrangements to move and/or transfer discrete articles that vary in size and/or shape with minimal to no change in equipment.

In wide format web printing the loading of a new web medium is a cumbersome process, requiring the operator to raise a very wide flexible web from the supply roll up to the print surface. The present invention provides a simple apparatus to aid in the manual loading process. The web transport assembly of the apparatus comprises a supply unit arranged for supplying the web from a media roll to a transport path and a pick-up device comprising a pick-up surface and a holding mechanism configured for releasably holding a leading edge section of the web onto the pick-up surface, wherein the pick-up device is moveable between a first position near the supply unit for attaching the leading edge section and a second position near the print surface. The leading edge section is moved upwards towards the print surface while held by the holding mechanism.

A printing press arrangement has a plurality of processing stations for processing sheets. The plurality of processing stations are arranged one after another in a transport direction of the sheets for in-line processing of the sheets. At least one of the processing stations is configured as a non-impact printing device. A transfer device, which is arranged upstream of the active region of the non-impact printing device, is provided for transferring the sheets from a first processing station, which is arranged upstream of the non-impact printing device, to the non-impact printing device. The transfer device aligns, in each case, at least one of the axial register and the circumferential register and the diagonal register of each of the sheets in register relative to the printing position of the non-impact printing device.

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.

Examples described herein include devices and methods for adjusting a suction force for a media holddown, comprising detecting an advancement of a media (114) relative to a media holddown surface along a media advancement direction (X), wherein the holddown surface has a plurality of suction zones arranged along the media advancement direction, and adjusting a suction force in the respective suction zones in accordance with the advancement of the media relative to the media holddown surface.

Methods and apparatuses for moving and/or transferring discrete articles are described. In particular, the methods and apparatuses relate to flexible arrangements to move and/or transfer discrete articles that vary in size and/or shape with minimal to no change in equipment.

Apparatus, methods, and systems for a vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing with adjustment to the covered area are disclosed. In some embodiments, a controller of a vacuum conveyor expands first one or more actuators of multiple first actuators of a substrate transportation system to decrease a suction width of an area of suction provided by the vacuum conveyor in accordance with a substrate width of a substrate being inkjet printed using the vacuum conveyor. A second one or more actuators of the multiple first actuators being retracted. The controller retracts multiple second actuators of the vacuum conveyor to increase the suction length of the area of suction while the substrate transportation system moves the substrate along the vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing of the substrate. The controller expands the retracted actuators of the multiple first actuators to increase the suction length as the substrates exit the vacuum conveyor.