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 mounting member to be mounted on a member that moves in a traveling direction includes: a rectangular sheet member; and an attachment portion having a first surface bonded to one end portion of a reverse surface of a downstream side portion of the sheet member in the traveling direction, the attachment portion being detachably attached to an attachment-receiving portion and having a surface facing a direction different from a direction of the first surface and bonded to the sheet member.

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.

A cylinder member includes: a cylinder body having a cross section and including a dent portion; a sheet member wrapped around the cylinder body and including a metal layer contacting the cylinder body and an outer layer; a first attachment member on a sheet member first end portion and removably attached to the dent portion; a second attachment member on a metal layer end portion protruding from the outer layer in the circumferential direction at a sheet member second end portion, the second attachment member being removably attached to the dent portion; a tension-applying mechanism pulling the second attachment member in a dent portion depth direction to apply tension to the metal layer; a projection on one of the second attachment member and metal layer end portion; and a fitting portion on other one of the second attachment member and the metal layer end portion and fitted to the projection.

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.

A web material advancement arrangement is provided with an entry drive system. The web material advancement arrangement can receive a web material from a storage roll and advance the web material through a machine, such as a packaging machine. The entry drive system may be arranged at the entry end of the web material advancement arrangement to push the web material in a downstream direction from the entry end toward the exit end of the web material advancement arrangement The entry drive system may include a motor that simultaneously rotates a pair of drive sprockets which may push clip assemblies that carry outer edges of a web material so that rotation of the drive sprockets pushes the web material in a downstream direction.

A web material advancement arrangement is provided with an entry drive system. The web material advancement arrangement can receive a web material from a storage roll and advance the web material through a machine, such as a packaging machine. The entry drive system may be arranged at the entry end of the web material advancement arrangement to push the web material in a downstream direction from the entry end toward the exit end of the web material advancement arrangement The entry drive system may include a motor that simultaneously rotates a pair of drive sprockets which may push clip assemblies that carry outer edges of a web material so that rotation of the drive sprockets pushes the web material in a downstream direction.

A mounting member to be mounted on a member that moves in a traveling direction includes: a rectangular sheet member; and an attachment portion having a first surface bonded to one end portion of a reverse surface of a downstream side portion of the sheet member in the traveling direction, the attachment portion being detachably attached to an attachment-receiving portion and having a surface facing a direction different from a direction of the first surface and bonded to the sheet member.

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).