A sheet material processing unit (20, 22, 24) comprises a transport system (32) for transporting sheets (12) or parts thereof from a respective input end (20i, 22i, 24i) to a respective output end (20o, 22o, 24o). A gripper unit (46) is releasably coupled to the transport system (32) and is configured for holding at least a part of one of the sheets (12). Additionally, at least one handover mechanism (47d, 47r) is provided being configured for decoupling the gripper unit (46) from the transport system (32) and providing the gripper unit (46) to a neighboring sheet material processing unit (20, 22, 24) and/or receiving a gripper unit (46) from a neighboring sheet material processing unit (20, 22, 24) and coupling the received gripper unit (46) to the corresponding transport system (32). Additionally, a sheet material processing machine (10) is presented which comprises at least two such sheet material processing units (20, 22, 24).

A sheet conveyance guide includes a sheet material. The sheet material has a surface to face a sheet when the sheet conveyance guide guides the sheet travelling in a conveyance direction. The sheet material has irregularities over a whole area of the surface.

A device for storing a sheet pile in a converting machine (10) comprises a transfer mechanism (28) for delivering sheets (22) into a piling area (26) of the device (22), and a sampling plate (44) which is adjustable between a sampling position and an access position, wherein the top of the piling area (26) is covered by the sampling plate (44) when the sampling plate (44) is in the sampling position and the top of the piling area (26) is free when the sampling plate (44) is in the access position.

A graphic alignment tool and a method of using the same are disclosed. The graphic alignment provides for a placement of a graphic on a substrate. The graphic alignment tool includes a T-shaped center bar having a base vertically disposed and a collar plate laterally disposed at a top end of the base. A width bar is dimensioned to laterally extend across a width of the substrate. A rod is configured to be received in each of the slot and the alignment slot to slidably retain the width bar in a squared orientation relative the T-shaped center bar. A logo grid may also be provided for alignment of a graphic on a chest area of the substrate. The logo grid may be slidably retained with the T-shaped center bar via a rod and a grid slot defined in the logo grid.

A folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press includes a first transport means formed as belt conveyor system for a web-shaped printing material and configured such that belts thereof can be driven at a speed, which corresponds to the speed of the printing material, and a first cutting means arranged in the region of the first transport means configured such that it severs the printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections not covered by the belts of the first transport means, and a second transport means arranged downstream from the first transport means and formed as belt conveyor system, the belts of which are offset relative to the belts of the first transport means transversely to the transport direction of the printing material, configured such that the belts thereof can be driven at a speed larger than the speed of the belts of the first transport means.

A folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press includes a first transport means formed as belt conveyor system for a web-shaped printing material and configured such that belts thereof can be driven at a speed, which corresponds to the speed of the printing material, and a first cutting means arranged in the region of the first transport means configured such that it severs the printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections not covered by the belts of the first transport means, and a second transport means arranged downstream from the first transport means and formed as belt conveyor system, the belts of which are offset relative to the belts of the first transport means transversely to the transport direction of the printing material, configured such that the belts thereof can be driven at a speed larger than the speed of the belts of the first transport means.

A sheet processing device has a moveable beam (36) that moves in the vertical direction, a gripper bar (30) for gripping a sheet that travels through the sheet processing device (10), and a gripper bar locking device (40) that can lock the gripper bar (30) in a precise position. The gripper bar locking device (40) has a locking lever (68) that is pivoting between a rest position and a locking position. The locking lever (68) is connected to a vertical linear guide coupled with the moveable beam (36) resulting in a precise, compact and simple system to lock the gripper bar.

The present invention discloses gripper bar locking apparatus and sheet processing device. In particular, the present invention discloses a gripper bar locking apparatus, which is configured to lock and adjust a position of a gripper bar, comprising: a supporting plate having a distal end and a proximal end; a lever portion, a distal end of which is pivotally mounted on the proximal end of the supporting plate; a cartridge movably mounted on a proximal end of the lever portion and provided with a gripper bar abutment; and an adjusting means provided on the cartridge and configured to adjust a position of the cartridge with respect to the lever portion. Further, the present invention relates to the sheet processing device including the gripper bar. By using the gripper bar locking apparatus, the adjustment of the position of the gripper bar is facilitated.

The present invention discloses gripper bar locking apparatus and sheet processing device. In particular, the present invention discloses a gripper bar locking apparatus, which is configured to lock and adjust a position of a gripper bar, comprising: a supporting plate having a distal end and a proximal end; a lever portion, a distal end of which is pivotally mounted on the proximal end of the supporting plate; a cartridge movably mounted on a proximal end of the lever portion and provided with a gripper bar abutment; and an adjusting means provided on the cartridge and configured to adjust a position of the cartridge with respect to the lever portion. Further, the present invention relates to the sheet processing device including the gripper bar. By using the gripper bar locking apparatus, the adjustment of the position of the gripper bar is facilitated.

A graphic alignment tool and a method of using the same are disclosed. The graphic alignment provides for a placement of a graphic on a substrate. The graphic alignment tool includes a T-shaped center bar having a base vertically disposed and a collar plate laterally disposed at a top end of the base. A width bar is dimensioned to laterally extend across a width of the substrate. A rod is configured to be received in each of the slot and the alignment slot to slidably retain the width bar in a squared orientation relative the T-shaped center bar. A logo grid may also be provided for alignment of a graphic on a chest area of the substrate. The logo grid may be slidably retained with the T-shaped center bar via a rod and a grid slot defined in the logo grid.