Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

A web cutting system is provided for use with a single transfer insert placement mechanism having at least one puck for transferring a discrete web and a continuous web feeding mechanism for feeding a continuous web wherein first and second rollers having substantially parallel axes and being aligned with one another form a nip at their juncture, an anvil is attached to one roller, a die is attached to the other roller, a vacuum source is coupled to one of the rollers, a plurality of vacuum apertures is formed in the same roller. One of the rollers is positioned adjacent to the single transfer insert placement mechanism and to the continuous web feeding mechanism. The continuous web is applied to one roller and at least one discrete web is transferred from the puck to the same roller after which a die cutting process of the webs occurs at the nip.

A sheet transport apparatus includes a first direction changing roller arranged along a transport path, wherein a sheet is transported along the transport path; a second direction changing roller disposed on the transport path, wherein the first direction changing roller and the second direction changing roller are next to each other in a direction perpendicular to the transport path, and the first direction changing roller and the second direction changing roller change an orientation of the sheet from a first orientation to a second orientation; and a control circuit configured to control one of the first direction changing roller and the second direction changing roller so that the first direction changing roller rotates slower than the second direction changing roller so as to change the orientation of the sheet from the first orientation to the second orientation.

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 cutting system is provided for use with a single transfer insert placement mechanism having at least one puck for transferring a discrete web and a continuous web feeding mechanism for feeding a continuous web wherein first and second rollers having substantially parallel axes and being aligned with one another form a nip at their juncture, an anvil is attached to one roller, a die is attached to the other roller, a vacuum source is coupled to one of the rollers, a plurality of vacuum apertures is formed in the same roller. One of the rollers is positioned adjacent to the single transfer insert placement mechanism and to the continuous web feeding mechanism. The continuous web is applied to one roller and at least one discrete web is transferred from the puck to the same roller after which a die cutting process of the webs occurs at the nip.

A sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet between two sheet processing devices comprising a switch for directing sheets from a first transport path coming from the first sheet processing device onto a two-way transport path or for directing sheets from the two-way transport path onto a second transport path for feeding sheets to the second sheet processing device. A transport pinch is provided along the two way transport path for reversing a sheet on the two-way transport path. When in use, the two-way transport path extends downward in a vertically extending free-hanging chamber wherein the sheet engaged by the transport pinch is allowed to hang freely under the influence of gravity. Thereby, a compact device is formed which is able to adjust the sheet to a suitable orientation for the second processing device. The device further prevents forces from the first processing device to disrupt the sheet's orientation in the second processing device.

The transport method includes a speed varying step of varying speed of a first holding portion between a receiving position and a predetermined relay position by means of a speed change mechanism; a control step of controlling speed of a servo motor for driving rotation of second holding portions, such that speed of the second holding portions becomes a receiving speed at which the second holding portions is able to receive the absorbent body from the first holding portion at the relay position and becomes a predetermined transfer speed at a transfer position, and such that the second holding portions arrive at the relay position and at the transfer position at a predetermined cycle; and a speed changing step of changing the transfer speed while the cycle is maintained.

A banknote processing apparatus capable of properly storing and dispensing a banknote is provided. The banknote processing apparatus includes: a transport unit that transports a banknote; a long-edge orientation storage unit that receives and stores, in a first orientation, the banknote transported by the transport unit, the first orientation being an orientation in which a short edge of the banknote is a leading edge thereof; a short-edge orientation storage unit that receives and stores, in a second orientation, the banknote transported by the transport unit, the second orientation being an orientation in which a long edge of the banknote is a leading edge thereof; and a control unit that selects, by controlling the transport unit, a storage destination for the banknote transported by the transport unit, from among any of the long-edge orientation storage unit and the short-edge orientation storage unit.

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 a conveyance device, first and second travel members that hold pads are arranged alternately and travel along the outer peripheral surface of a stationary drum in conjunction with the rotation of a drive member. One or both of the first and second travel members have a rotatably supported shaft member having an engaging section that engages with a guide section formed in the outer peripheral surface of the stationary drum. The rotation of the shaft member is transmitted to the pads and the pads rotate. When conveyance articles are released from pads that have received conveyance articles having the same orientation, the orientation of conveyance articles released from first pads held by the first travel member is different from the orientation of the conveyance articles released from the second pads held by the second travel member.