Patent ID: 6138565
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B41F,B65H

Abstract:
A guide blade for guiding sheets in a printing machine, the guide blade comprising:a front edge portion and an end piece,a flow surface extending from said front edge portion and along said end piece, air nozzels located on said flow surface, said air nozzels being connected to a source of pressurized gas, and said air nozzels directing said pressurized gas in a direction of travel of said sheets, anda plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, guiding fins projecting downwardly from said flow surface and extending along a substantial length of said flow surface, said guiding fins having a downstream end spaced further away from said flow surface than an upstream end thereof;whereby when said sheet is directed over said guide blade, said sheet, along with said guiding fins and said flow surface, create a diverging flow channel, inducing a partial vacuum in said flow channel which serves to maintain said sheet in contact with said guide blade.