The invention relates to a vacuum system for securing items in printing machines, comprising a printing table (2) with a perforated surface and, in relation thereto, a vacuum system for securing the items to be printed, which comprises a box structure (8) connected to a suction system and provided with a perforated wall in relation to the surface of the printing table (2), said box structure (8) having lateral panels that vertically close the interior thereof, which panels can be moved in order to adjust the gap between them in relation to the width of the items to be printed.

The invention relates to a method and a device for arranging sheets in an overlapping position in a transfer unit arranged between a first processing station and a second processing station following the first processing station in a transport direction of the sheets. The sheets to be overlapped are transported from the first processing station to the transfer unit, in a transport plane and each individually lying behind one another. A respective rear, in the transport direction, edge of the sheets coming from the first processing station, is raised relative to the transport plane exclusively by the use of blown air, and a second subsequent sheet is slid under the rear edge of the respective preceding first sheet.

The invention relates to a method and a device for arranging sheets in an overlapping position in a transfer unit arranged between a first processing station and a second processing station following the first processing station in a transport direction of the sheets. The sheets to be overlapped are transported from the first processing station to the transfer unit, in a transport plane and each individually lying behind one another. A respective rear, in the transport direction, edge of the sheets coming from the first processing station, is raised relative to the transport plane exclusively by the use of blown air, and a second subsequent sheet is slid under the rear edge of the respective preceding first sheet.

A printing system includes an endless metal transport belt for transporting sheets in a transport direction, wherein the metal transport belt comprises multiple through holes through which an underpressure or overpressure may be applied on the sheets, a sheet separation system for separating the sheets from the metal transport belt by applying a local overpressure, and a sheet separation guide which guides the separated sheets away from the metal transport belt. The sheet separation system includes a stationary sliding surface, wherein the metal transport belt slides over the stationary sliding surface, wherein the stationary sliding surface includes a number of blow holes which define the overpressure zone, and wherein the blow holes are configured to apply a local overpressure in the overpressure zone through the metal transport belt onto the underside of the sheets. The overpressure zone is formed in the curved part of the stationary sliding surface, wherein the overpressure zone has an upstream end and a downstream end, which are defined by the location of the blow holes, and wherein the sheet separation guide directly adjoins the overpressure zone at the downstream end thereof.

A printing system includes an endless metal transport belt for transporting sheets in a transport direction, wherein the metal transport belt comprises multiple through holes through which an underpressure or overpressure may be applied on the sheets, a sheet separation system for separating the sheets from the metal transport belt by applying a local overpressure, and a sheet separation guide which guides the separated sheets away from the metal transport belt. The sheet separation system includes a stationary sliding surface, wherein the metal transport belt slides over the stationary sliding surface, wherein the stationary sliding surface includes a number of blow holes which define the overpressure zone, and wherein the blow holes are configured to apply a local overpressure in the overpressure zone through the metal transport belt onto the underside of the sheets. The overpressure zone is formed in the curved part of the stationary sliding surface, wherein the overpressure zone has an upstream end and a downstream end, which are defined by the location of the blow holes, and wherein the sheet separation guide directly adjoins the overpressure zone at the downstream end thereof.

A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x and extends in a second lateral direction z, the second conveying direction x and the second lateral direction z defining a second conveying plane xz. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane xz that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x and extends in a second lateral direction z, the second conveying direction x and the second lateral direction z defining a second conveying plane xz. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane xz that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport belt disposed with a part thereof shifted from the first transport unit toward the downstream side in a transport direction of the web, a suction chamber positioned in an inner side of the second transport belt and configured to create suction inside the suction chamber to suck the web onto the second transport belt, and a current plate positioned inside of the suction chamber to adjust an air current. The current plate has a plurality of holes, and is spaced apart from a surface of the second transport belt such that the air current is diffused between the current plate and the surface of the second transport belt to achieve a uniform suction force in a width direction of the second transport belt.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a second conveyance belt disposed on an upstream side of a first conveyance belt in a sheet conveyance direction; a second absorption section configured to absorb the sheet stored in the sheet storage section to suck the sheet on the second conveyance belt; and a control section configured to perform a stopping operation for stopping at least one of a conveyance operation of the second conveyance belt and an absorption operation of the second absorption section during a conveyance operation of the first conveyance belt.

A roll of labels, each of the labels having a label side and an adhesive side, the roll comprising a stack of partially overlapping labels winded around a core structure. The label side of the first label of the stack, closest to the core structure, is on top of the stack. The roll also comprises a liner provided under a non-overlapping portion on the adhesive side of the partially overlapping labels. A method, and an apparatus, for stacking labels comprising conveying a plurality of individual labels at a first speed and transferring each of the plurality of individual labels to form a stack of labels running at a second speed lower than the first speed, thereby causing the transferred labels to be stacked in a partially overlapping configuration.