A switching device (130) for transferring and ejecting a plate element (20) in a sorting unit (100), comprises: transport means (132), capable of transporting (A) the plate element (20) from upstream to downstream; a pivot (134), positioned in an upstream portion of the transport means (132), and allowing the transport means (132) to tilt relative to a horizontal transverse axis (R2); and raising means (135), secured in a downstream portion of the transport means (132), for tilting the downstream portion of the transport means (132) between a high first position and a low second position, and vice versa,
so as to switch the plate element (20), respectively upward and downward.

A feeding unit for feeding a plastic film in packaging machines for wrapping paper rolls, including: a unit for unwinding the film from a reel; a cutting device adapted to cut the film transversely; a transfer device including, on the right and on the left side of the feeding unit, drive belts configured for engaging the upper and lower faces of the film; and a positioning device including, on the right and on the left side of the unit, a predetermined number of drive belts configured for engaging the upper and lower faces of the film. On each side of the feeding unit, the transfer device comprises two pairs of belts. On each side of the feeding unit, the positioning device comprises a third pair of belts. The three pairs of belts are actuated by independent actuators.

An image forming apparatus includes: a circulating member that is a part of a transport path that transports a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member, circulates, and holds a leading end portion of the recording medium; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position in a circulation path of the circulating member; and a feeding section that feeds out the recording medium to a holding position where the holding member holds the leading end portion of the recording medium. When a circulation velocity Vg is defined as a velocity at which the circulating member circulates the holding member, a transport velocity of the recording medium is reduced from a first transport velocity V1, which is higher than the circulation velocity Vg, to a second transport velocity V2, which is lower than the first transport velocity V1, before the leading end portion of the recording medium enters the holding position.

An image forming apparatus includes: a circulating member that is a part of a transport path that transports a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member, circulates, and holds a leading end portion of the recording medium; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position in a circulation path of the circulating member; and a feeding section that feeds out the recording medium to a holding position where the holding member holds the leading end portion of the recording medium. When a circulation velocity Vg is defined as a velocity at which the circulating member circulates the holding member, a transport velocity of the recording medium is reduced from a first transport velocity V1, which is higher than the circulation velocity Vg, to a second transport velocity V2, which is lower than the first transport velocity V1, before the leading end portion of the recording medium enters the holding position.

Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

A forming assembly of multilayer packets of wet wipes includes: a feeding device of wipes assemblies; a forming device of packets including wipes assemblies; a packet removing device, where the forming device receives the wipes assemblies from an upper level and releases the packets at a lower level; first and second bands closed in a loop, moving along a path having a respective operating section extending vertically, including blades facing one another along the respective operating section creating housings for single wipes assemblies and defining a free space; a moving index in the free space ejecting a predetermined number of wipes assemblies onto the removing device; and a movement member advancing the index through the free space, the index including a fixed body associated with the movement member and a moving portion associated with the fixed body, allowing the index height to vary with respect to the removing device.

A forming assembly of multilayer packets of wet wipes includes: a feeding device of wipes assemblies; a forming device of packets including wipes assemblies; a packet removing device, where the forming device receives the wipes assemblies from an upper level and releases the packets at a lower level; first and second bands closed in a loop, moving along a path having a respective operating section extending vertically, including blades facing one another along the respective operating section creating housings for single wipes assemblies and defining a free space; a moving index in the free space ejecting a predetermined number of wipes assemblies onto the removing device; and a movement member advancing the index through the free space, the index including a fixed body associated with the movement member and a moving portion associated with the fixed body, allowing the index height to vary with respect to the removing device.

Sorting module for bags checking machines, of the type that are installed before the bag can enter the checking machine comprising driving means that activate the module, and in that comprises: a pressure roller (102) that puts pressure on the bags (1) as they pass through under said roller (102), which has an ascending and a descending motion, a first input roller (101) connected to conveyance means (4) of the checking machine and to the pressure roller (102), and at least one automatic or manually-operated diverter element (103) positioned bellow pressure roller (102), which has at least two positions, a first upward position that blocks the passing of the bags towards the conveyance means (4) and guides the bags towards another predetermined destination, and a second downward position that defines a passage (105) formed by the conveyance means (4), said diverter element (103) blocks the passing of the bags (1) towards the other predetermined destination and guides the bags (1) towards the passage (105).

Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.