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.

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.

A web transport assembly is provided for transporting a web along a processing unit for processing the web, the web transport assembly comprising: a transport device arranged for moving the web in a transport direction through a transport path along the processing unit, the transport device being arranged downstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; and a friction-based tensioning device arranged upstream of the processing unit relative to the transport direction; wherein the friction-based tensioning device comprises a guiding surface for guiding the web towards the processing unit and a plurality of suction holes distributed over the guiding surface for providing a suction force to a contact side of the web, the plurality of suction holes being arranged in fluid communication to a suction source, which generates the suction force, wherein the guiding surface is configured to exert a friction force on the web in response to the suction force provided to the contact side of the web; and wherein the friction-based tensioning device is configured for controlling a tension of the web between the guiding surface and the transport device.

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 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.

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.

An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.

A medium feeding device includes a container member that accommodates sheet media, a discharging member disposed further than the media accommodated in the container member in a discharging direction in which the media are discharged, a hand-over member disposed above the container member at a position closer to the discharging member, a floating device disposed on a side of the media accommodated in the container member, and an auxiliary suction member disposed above the container member on a side of the hand-over member opposite to a side closer to the discharging member in the discharging direction in which the media are discharged. The auxiliary suction member is disposed closer to the hand-over member than to an end portion of the media accommodated in the container member opposite to an end portion of the media located closer to the discharging member.

A sheet 200 for an array of vacuum apertures 152 in a substrate support unit 150 of a printer is provided. The sheet 200 comprises a plurality of valves 202 formed into the sheet 200. The sheet 200 is made from a resilient material. Each valve 202 comprises a valve head 204 for sealing a vacuum aperture 152 in the substrate support unit 150, and a valve lever arm 206 for permitting movement of the valve head 204 towards and away from the vacuum aperture 152 in order to open and close the valve 202.

A turnover device, a substrate cell-assembling apparatus and a substrate cell-assembling method are provided. The turnover device comprises: a fixed support and a turnover platform connected with the fixed support by a first rotary shaft, the turnover platform having a first suction surface and a second suction surface which are oppositely arranged and are configured to suction a substrate; a second rotary shaft and a third rotary shaft, configured to respectively drive the first suction surface and the second suction surface to rotate in an in-plane direction, axial directions of the second rotary shaft and the third rotary shaft being basically perpendicular to that of the first rotary shaft. The turnover platform is configured to turn over the first suction surface and the second suction surface by the first rotary shaft.