A carousel for transporting articles includes: a body rotated by a motor around a main axis, a stationary cam around the main axis and a plurality of transfer units mounted on the body to rotate around the main axis. Each unit includes a transfer element having a radially external portion to retain or release an article. The element is pivoted on the body around an auxiliary axis radial to the main axis and is coupled to the body to move along the auxiliary axis. The element is coupled to the stationary cam to rotate around the auxiliary axis. A pair of auxiliary cams is coupled to the element and integral with the body and auxiliary cam-followers are interposed between the element and the auxiliary cam to move on the auxiliary cams during rotation of the element around the auxiliary axis and move the element along the auxiliary axis.

A carousel for transporting articles includes: a body rotated by a motor around a main axis, a stationary cam around the main axis and a plurality of transfer units mounted on the body to rotate around the main axis. Each unit includes a transfer element having a radially external portion to retain or release an article. The element is pivoted on the body around an auxiliary axis radial to the main axis and is coupled to the body to move along the auxiliary axis. The element is coupled to the stationary cam to rotate around the auxiliary axis. A pair of auxiliary cams is coupled to the element and integral with the body and auxiliary cam-followers are interposed between the element and the auxiliary cam to move on the auxiliary cams during rotation of the element around the auxiliary axis and move the element along the auxiliary axis.

A printing device and method is described comprising: controlling movement of a printing medium along a printing medium path to position the printing medium relative to at least one printhead to allow printing on the printing medium by the at least one printhead; and applying a plurality of respective elastic forces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the printing medium path, wherein the respective elastic forces are applied by a plurality of elastic elements of a modular assembly arranged laterally across a width of the printing medium path, wherein the printing medium acts against the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements of the modular assembly.

An ejection device for ejecting sample blanks for a processing machine for processing elements in sheet form, the processing machine comprising: a plurality of work stations including at least one waste removal station, and a conveying device comprising a plurality of gripper bars configured to drive the elements through the work stations, the ejection device comprises at least one actuating element able to move between: an inactive position positioned away from the path of the gripper bars, and an active position positioned on the path of the gripper bars, the at least one actuating element being configured to collaborate with the gripper bars as they pass by, so as to open the gripper bars and eject, flat, a sample of blanks. The present invention also relates to a waste removal station, a processing machine for processing elements in sheet form, and a method for ejecting blanks samples in a machine.

An ejection device for ejecting sample blanks for a processing machine for processing elements in sheet form, the processing machine comprising: a plurality of work stations including at least one waste removal station, and a conveying device comprising a plurality of gripper bars configured to drive the elements through the work stations, the ejection device comprises at least one actuating element able to move between: an inactive position positioned away from the path of the gripper bars, and an active position positioned on the path of the gripper bars, the at least one actuating element being configured to collaborate with the gripper bars as they pass by, so as to open the gripper bars and eject, flat, a sample of blanks. The present invention also relates to a waste removal station, a processing machine for processing elements in sheet form, and a method for ejecting blanks samples in a machine.

A sheet bundle discharging apparatus K, including: a conveyance unit 66 configured to convey a sheet bundle; a guide unit 72 configured to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveyance unit; a discharging unit 90 configured to discharge the sheet bundle to an outside of the sheet bundle discharging apparatus; and a receiving unit 81 configured to receive the sheet bundle guided by the guide unit, wherein the receiving unit includes: a contact portion 81c with which a leading end portion of the sheet bundle, which is guided by the guide unit, in a moving direction of the sheet bundle is to be brought into contact; and a pushing portion 81b, which is formed integrally with the contact portion, and is configured to push a first surface of the sheet bundle, and wherein the receiving unit is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and is configured to receive the sheet bundle in the first position and rotate from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the pushing portion to push the first surface of the sheet bundle to place a second surface of the sheet bundle, which is on a side opposite to the first surface, on the discharging unit.

A sheet bundle discharging apparatus K, including: a conveyance unit 66 configured to convey a sheet bundle; a guide unit 72 configured to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveyance unit; a discharging unit 90 configured to discharge the sheet bundle to an outside of the sheet bundle discharging apparatus; and a receiving unit 81 configured to receive the sheet bundle guided by the guide unit, wherein the receiving unit includes: a contact portion 81c with which a leading end portion of the sheet bundle, which is guided by the guide unit, in a moving direction of the sheet bundle is to be brought into contact; and a pushing portion 81b, which is formed integrally with the contact portion, and is configured to push a first surface of the sheet bundle, and wherein the receiving unit is rotatable between a first position and a second position, and is configured to receive the sheet bundle in the first position and rotate from the first position to the second position, thereby allowing the pushing portion to push the first surface of the sheet bundle to place a second surface of the sheet bundle, which is on a side opposite to the first surface, on the discharging unit.

A device (110) for sampling sheet elements (20) in a sorting unit (100) comprises: transport means (111, 112) defining a plane (P0) and able to move (A) a sheet element (20) longitudinally upstream to downstream, an axis (R1) situated at the level of the transport means (111, 112) and extending transversely, a diversion part (113) rotatable about the axis (R1) and having at least one end (114) so that during the rotation of the diversion part (113) through a first angular sector (S1) the horizontal projection of the end (114) remains below the plane (P0) and during the rotation through a second angular sector (S2) complementary to the first angular sector the horizontal projection of the end (114) moves above the plane (P0) so as to divert a sheet element (20) in a direction different from the plane (P0) and thus to sample the sheet element (20).

A device (110) for sampling sheet elements (20) in a sorting unit (100) comprises: transport means (111, 112) defining a plane (P0) and able to move (A) a sheet element (20) longitudinally upstream to downstream, an axis (R1) situated at the level of the transport means (111, 112) and extending transversely, a diversion part (113) rotatable about the axis (R1) and having at least one end (114) so that during the rotation of the diversion part (113) through a first angular sector (S1) the horizontal projection of the end (114) remains below the plane (P0) and during the rotation through a second angular sector (S2) complementary to the first angular sector the horizontal projection of the end (114) moves above the plane (P0) so as to divert a sheet element (20) in a direction different from the plane (P0) and thus to sample the sheet element (20).

An image forming apparatus includes: a belt unit including a transfer belt and a first memory that stores a first sheet conveying speed of the transfer belt; a second memory storing a first reference value and a second sheet conveying speed of the fixing unit a controller configured to: control at least one of the belt motor and the fixing motor to bring the speed difference between the sheet conveying speed of the transfer belt and the sheet conveying speed of the fixing unit closer to the first reference value by setting a rotational speed of the fixing motor based on the first reference value and a first speed difference between the first sheet conveying speed read from the first memory and the second sheet conveying speed read from the second memory.