In some examples, a sheet processing machine includes an at least one pile formation device. The at least one pile formation device is arranged so as to be displaceable at least in an inward-moving direction. The at least one pile formation device includes a plane. The at least one pile formation device is displaceable at least in a vertical direction relative to at least one lower multiple-up separating tool by means of a lifting device. In a temporary storage position, at least the plane is arranged in a vertical direction beneath a plane of the at least one lower multiple-up separating tool.

A conveyor configured to transport sheets along a transport path from an input end to a discharge end includes a main frame, an upper conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of belts and a lower conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of wheels. The transport path is defined by the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts in the first contact region and the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels in the second contact region, and the conveyor is configured such that the sheets make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts and make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels when the sheets move along the transport path. The wheels are shiftable in the third direction relative to the belts and relative to the main frame.

A stacking device for generating decks (10) of sheet elements (12) comprises a transport device with an upper side onto which sheet elements (12) are arranged on separate sheet sections (50). Each sheet section (50) is adapted to transport at least one sheet element (12). The upper side has a height offset between adjacent sheet sections (50). A displacement element shifts sheet elements (12) of one sheet section (50) onto an adjacent sheet section (50) in order to produce the deck (10) of sheet elements (12).

A conveyor includes a frame, a carriage supported by the frame for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, a lower conveyor deck supported by the frame and an upper deck. The lower deck has a plurality of contact elements, which may be wheels, for supporting sheets of material moving through the conveyor. The upper deck includes a rear portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced first belts each supported by a plurality of first pulleys and a front portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced second belts each supported a plurality of second pulleys. The plurality of second pulleys includes a first second pulley and a second second pulley that are supported by the carriage for movement with the carriage relative to the frame.

A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belt and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures.

A method for generating decks of sheet elements (18) comprises the steps of positioning a set of numerous sheet elements (18) onto a transport surface of a transport device (30) to partly overlap in transport direction (T). The set of overlapping sheet elements (18) is moved against a stop member (44). The stop member (44) is moved in the transport direction (T) with a lower velocity than a velocity of the transport surface. By maintaining displacement of sheet elements (18) which are not yet contacting stop member (44) all sheet elements are shifted towards stop member (44) to define a deck. The method is carried out by a corresponding device.

A magazine for packs of blanks includes a vertical channel configured for inserting and extracting packs of blanks, a succession of groups of supporting parts movable between a retracted position to allow the packs of blanks to move along the channel towards a portion under the supporting part, and an at least partly extracted position, in which the supporting part intercepts a pack of blanks moving down the channel and provides a steady support for the pack of blanks, and transmission means configured to automatically move each supporting part from the retracted position to the at least partly extracted position when the supporting part immediately below it intercepts a respective pack of blanks, thereby defining the steady support.

In some examples, a sheet processing machine includes at least one pile formation device. The at least one pile formation device is arranged in a vertical direction beneath a multiple-up separating mechanism. The at least one pile formation device is arranged so as to be displaceable at least in an inward-moving direction. The at least one pile formation device includes at least one horizontally displaceable pile formation means and a deposit element that can be displaced relative to the at least one pile formation means.

A depalletizing machine for picking up and moving groups of articles, specifically bundles of blanks, includes a containing structure internally provided with at least one receiving area for a movable magazine containing one or more groups of articles. The machine also includes at least one access opening for allowing the magazine to be inserted into, or removed from, the receiving area. The machine also includes a collection zone configured for receiving a succession of groups of articles from the movable magazine and for moving the groups of articles towards the outside of the machine. The machine also includes at least one sensor configured for detecting a position of the movable magazine within the at least one receiving area and a pickup head configured to pick up groups of articles from the movable magazine and transferring them into the collection zone. The machine also includes a control unit configured for setting a predetermined law of motion for the pickup head as a function of at least one information item obtained from the sensor, regarding the position of the movable magazine.

A feeding unit to feed blanks in a packer machine has a frame supporting a hopper and conveyor. The hopper holds a stack of blanks and has a pick-up opening, through which one blank at a time can be retrieved from the stack. The conveyor moves the blanks along a moving path ending in the hopper. The feeding unit can be adjusted by a format change operation to contain blanks with different formats by changing the feeding unit from a first configuration for containing a first format to a second configuration for containing a second format, different from the first format. A plurality of different and interchangeable hoppers are provided, each associated with a corresponding format of the blanks. Each hopper is fixed to the frame in a removable manner in order to be replaced during a format change operation.