An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder configured to hold an image formed using an electrographic process; a transfer body that faces the image holder and is configured to contact the image holder while rotating to form a secondary transfer region; an application unit configured to apply a voltage for charging the secondary transfer region; and a charge unit that faces a region other than the secondary transfer region of the transfer body and is configured to charge a surface of the transfer body with a polarity opposite to an applied voltage of the application unit.

A system for handling sheets of flexible material. The system comprises a first roller (5.2) which comprises a plurality of first releasable connectors (3.2) and a second roller (5.3) which comprises a plurality of second releasable connectors. The system further comprises an array of third releasable connectors (2.1) which is displaceable between at least the first and second rollers (5.2, 5.3). The first, second and third releasable connectors releasably attach to a sheet of flexible material in use.

A transport device includes a rotating member that rotates; a circulating member that is loop-shaped and wrapped around the rotating member, the circulating member being circulated by rotation of the rotating member; a pair of pinching members attached to the circulating member and circulated together with the circulating member, the pair of pinching members changing from a separated state, in which the pair of pinching members are separated from each other, to a closely positioned state to pinch a transport object that has entered a space between the pair of pinching members in the separated state; and a guide unit positioned to overlap the pair of pinching members in the separated state when viewed in one direction along a rotational axis direction of the rotating member, the guide unit guiding the transport object into the space between the pair of pinching members in the separated state.

A movement unit for moving a blank includes a drum, a blank with central and lateral panels, and a retention device for retaining the blank. The lateral panel has an end secured to the central panel by a folding zone and an opposite free end. The retention device is secured to the drum and includes a support, a first gripping portion secured to the support and having first retention elements configured to retain the central panel, and a second gripping portion secured to the support or to the first gripping portion and having second retention elements configured to retain the lateral panel.

A movement unit for moving a blank includes a drum, a blank with central and lateral panels, and a retention device for retaining the blank. The lateral panel has an end secured to the central panel by a folding zone and an opposite free end. The retention device is secured to the drum and includes a support, a first gripping portion secured to the support and having first retention elements configured to retain the central panel, and a second gripping portion secured to the support or to the first gripping portion and having second retention elements configured to retain the lateral panel.

A feed appliance for feeding products to a further processing appliance includes a standby circulatory apparatus with a takeover station and with several transport units that are circulatorily movable independently of one another for each receiving a product at the takeover station, a provision conveyor for feeding the products to the takeover station, and a control device for controlling the feed of the products and of the transport units into a takeover section of the takeover station and for controlling the takeover of the fed products by the transport units. The standby circulatory apparatus for creating a gapless product stream includes a release device for the cyclically controlled release of individual transport units into the takeover section. For this, the control device is designed to release a transport unit only given a feed of a cyclically correct product into the takeover section.

A retention device for retaining blanks includes: a support, a first gripping portion secured to the support and provided with first retention elements of a blank, a second gripping portion secured to the support or to the first gripping portion and provided with second retention elements of the blank, and a movement mechanism for the second gripping portion with respect to the first gripping portion. The movement mechanism is configured to perform a pure rotation of the second gripping portion about a virtual rotation axis defined outside the retention device.

A device for feeding sheets to a digital sheet-processing machine includes a feed drum for transporting the sheets to the printing machine. At least two transport paths are provided to convey the sheets to be processed to the feed cylinder in at least two different positions from where the sheets are taken over by a gripper device of the feed cylinder and accelerated to processing speed. A digital sheet-fed printing machine having the device is also provided.

A device for feeding sheets to a digital sheet-processing machine includes a feed drum for transporting the sheets to the printing machine. At least two transport paths are provided to convey the sheets to be processed to the feed cylinder in at least two different positions from where the sheets are taken over by a gripper device of the feed cylinder and accelerated to processing speed. A digital sheet-fed printing machine having the device is also provided.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet conveyor, a guide, a rotary conveyor, a gripper, and an adjuster. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor. The rotary conveyor is disposed downstream from the guide in a sheet conveyance direction. The gripper is mounted on the rotary conveyor, the gripper configured to grip a leading end of the sheet. The adjuster is configured to adjust a sheet entering range of the gripper to which the leading end of the sheet enters, along with conveyance of the sheet conveyor, in a direction intersecting a sheet surface.