A print device includes a supply unit, a print unit, a conveyer, a tensioner, and a rotor. The conveyer is configured to nip and to convey, with a pair of rollers, a long medium in a conveyance direction. The tensioner is configured to contact a second surface of the medium to cause the medium to bend. The tensioner is pivotably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction. The rotor is rotatably supported at a position upstream of the conveyer in the conveyance direction, and positioned downstream, in the conveyance direction, of an upstream end portion, in the conveyance direction, of the tensioner. The rotor is positioned such that an upper end of the rotor and a nipped point are at a same height. The rotor is configured to contact the second surface.

A method is provided for controlling a web in a printing apparatus The printing apparatus includes a transport assembly for moving the web through a transport path along a printing unit for printing an image onto a print area of the web. The method includes feeding the web from a supply roll through the transport path to the transport assembly; and switching the printing apparatus to a ready-to-print mode, wherein the printing unit does not print an image on the web and the web is maintained ready to be printed on. In a printing mode after the ready-to print mode, the following steps are performed: moving the web through the transport path in a transport direction along the printing unit by the transport assembly; and printing the image onto the print area of the web by the printing unit. The image is printed by applying an image material, which solidifies on the web during the printing step. The ready-to-print mode includes the step of: operating the transport assembly to prevent a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path, while maintaining the web in the ready-to-print mode. The web is maintained ready to print while preventing a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path.

A method is provided for controlling a web in a printing apparatus The printing apparatus includes a transport assembly for moving the web through a transport path along a printing unit for printing an image onto a print area of the web. The method includes feeding the web from a supply roll through the transport path to the transport assembly; and switching the printing apparatus to a ready-to-print mode, wherein the printing unit does not print an image on the web and the web is maintained ready to be printed on. In a printing mode after the ready-to print mode, the following steps are performed: moving the web through the transport path in a transport direction along the printing unit by the transport assembly; and printing the image onto the print area of the web by the printing unit. The image is printed by applying an image material, which solidifies on the web during the printing step. The ready-to-print mode includes the step of: operating the transport assembly to prevent a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path, while maintaining the web in the ready-to-print mode. The web is maintained ready to print while preventing a deformation of the print area of the web in the transport path.

A thermoforming packaging machine that includes a film holder for receiving a lower film supply roll and one behind the other in a sequential arrangement along a production direction a pretreatment station for pretreating the lower film web, a forming station for forming troughs in the lower film web by thermoforming, an insertion line for filling the troughs with products and a sealing station for sealing the troughs with a top film. A transport device is configured to transport the lower film web along the production direction through the pretreatment station, further to the forming station, further to the insertion line and finally to the sealing station. A deflection unit arranged at least partially below the pretreatment station is configured to deflect the lower film web before reaching the pretreatment station. The pretreatment station may include a punching or slitting unit to punch or slit the lower film web.

A thermoforming packaging machine that includes a film holder for receiving a lower film supply roll and one behind the other in a sequential arrangement along a production direction a pretreatment station for pretreating the lower film web, a forming station for forming troughs in the lower film web by thermoforming, an insertion line for filling the troughs with products and a sealing station for sealing the troughs with a top film. A transport device is configured to transport the lower film web along the production direction through the pretreatment station, further to the forming station, further to the insertion line and finally to the sealing station. A deflection unit arranged at least partially below the pretreatment station is configured to deflect the lower film web before reaching the pretreatment station. The pretreatment station may include a punching or slitting unit to punch or slit the lower film web.

Systems and methods are provided for configuring media transport flow paths for directing input image receiving media, including of different types, in sheet or roll form from multiple axes to provide wider latitude in selecting particular input image receiving media and combinations of input image receiving media to support execution of a print job. The disclosed schemes are directed at using one or more stationary turn bars disposed generally at 45° in an input media transport path approaching a marking module in an image forming system to allow for sheets or sheeted materials to be positioned at 90° to the in-line input image receiving media transport path directed toward the marking module thus allowing for flexibility in selection among various sources of stacked, pallet and rolled media.

Systems and methods are provided for configuring media transport flow paths for directing input image receiving media, including of different types, in sheet or roll form from multiple axes to provide wider latitude in selecting particular input image receiving media and combinations of input image receiving media to support execution of a print job. The disclosed schemes are directed at using one or more stationary turn bars disposed generally at 45° in an input media transport path approaching a marking module in an image forming system to allow for sheets or sheeted materials to be positioned at 90° to the in-line input image receiving media transport path directed toward the marking module thus allowing for flexibility in selection among various sources of stacked, pallet and rolled media.

A web path for conveying a web material includes at least two support rollers contacting a single major surface of the web material, wherein the web material is of indefinite length and has a first and a second edge. A first support roller contacts a first edge region of the web material, and a second support roller contacts a second edge region of the web material such that the web material has a substantial un-contacted region between the first and the second support roller including at least about 50% of the width of the web material. At least one of the first support roller and the second support roller are supported on a bowed shaft such that at least one of the first and second support rollers is angled with respect to the direction of motion of the web.

An apparatus (un-interleaver) for unwinding a roll of material interleaved with another material, and for separating the materials, includes a first platform, a second platform, a tension-sensor, an edge-sensor, and a controller. The controller monitors signals generated by the tension-sensor and the edge-sensor, and in response to the signals: a) causes the speed at which the second platform rotates to change to maintain a predetermined tension in the second material as the second material travels from the first platform toward the second platform, and b) causes the second platform to move relative to the first platform to align the edge of the second material traveling toward the roll of second material with the edge of the second material in the roll.

An apparatus (un-interleaver) for unwinding a roll of material interleaved with another material, and for separating the materials, includes a first platform, a second platform, a tension-sensor, an edge-sensor, and a controller. The controller monitors signals generated by the tension-sensor and the edge-sensor, and in response to the signals: a) causes the speed at which the second platform rotates to change to maintain a predetermined tension in the second material as the second material travels from the first platform toward the second platform, and b) causes the second platform to move relative to the first platform to align the edge of the second material traveling toward the roll of second material with the edge of the second material in the roll.