Patent Publication Number: US-2011048646-A1

Title: Sheet overlap device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sheet overlap device that is provided upstream of laminate means in a transport direction of sheets, the laminate means for applying lamination to the sheets, and that causes the transport-direction trailing end side of a preceding sheet and the transport-direction leading end side of a subsequent sheet to overlap each other and thereafter feeds the sheets to the laminate means. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     For a laminating means that laminates sheets, for example a conventional laminating machine for laminating paper sheets with a film, a sheet feeder continuously feeds paper sheets into a position between a pair of pressure rollers in such a manner that each of the paper sheets can partially overlap the paper sheet to be fed next. After a web-like film is fed to the position between the pair of pressure rollers, and adheres to surfaces of the paper sheets, a cutting blade is inserted between each pair of overlapping paper sheets, and then cuts the film, to make the paper sheets separable. The paper sheets are then delivered to a delivery unit. Thus, by using such a laminating machine, paper sheets can be efficiently laminated with a film without wasting any part of a web-like film (see Patent Document 1 below, for example). 
     Patent Document 1: JP-A 2003-127237 
     Patent Document 2: JP-A 2001-038677 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     In a conventional way of laminating paper sheets printed by a printing press with a film, printed paper sheets delivered to a delivery unit of the printing press are transferred to the sheet feeder of the above-described lamination machine to laminate the paper sheets with a film in the above-described manner. Such conventional lamination requires lot of time and labor, as well as installation of both a printing press and a laminating machine. Accordingly, lot of time and labor are required. 
     In light of the above situation, it is conceivable to connect the printing press and the lamination machine. However, the paper sheets to be printed by the printing press are transported with predetermined intervals, while the paper sheets to be laminated by the lamination machine are transported in such a state that each of the paper sheets can partially overlap the subsequent sheet. Accordingly, speedy and accurate lamination of printed paper sheets with a film has been difficult. 
     Such problems are likely to arise in any case where lamination is applied to sheets transported separately one by one with a space therebetween, as well as in the case where film lamination is applied to paper sheets on which printing is performed by a printing press. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     To solve the above-described problem, a first invention provides a sheet overlap device that is provided upstream of laminate means in a transport direction of sheets, and that causes a transport-direction trailing end side of a preceding sheet and a transport-direction leading end side of a subsequent sheet to overlap each other and thereafter feeds the sheets to the laminate means, the laminate means for applying lamination to the sheets, the sheet overlap device including: a transport cylinder including holding means for holding the sheets; downstream-side transport means for receiving the sheets from the transport cylinder and then transporting the sheets to the laminate means; and an outfeed wheel provided to face the transport cylinder, and holding the sheets in cooperation with the transport cylinder so as to transport the sheets to the downstream-side transport means. In the sheet overlap device, the outfeed wheel holds the sheets in cooperation with the transport cylinder before the holding means of the transport cylinder releases hold of the sheets. 
     A second invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the outfeed wheel holds the sheets in cooperation with the transport cylinder before the holding means of the transport cylinder releases hold of the sheets, and then transports the sheets that are released from the hold by the holding means, to the downstream-side transport means. 
     A third invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the outfeed wheel is provided so as to hold the sheets in cooperation with the transport cylinder at a position upstream, in the transport direction of the sheets, of a position at which the holding means of the transport cylinder releases the hold of the sheets. 
     A fourth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the downstream-side transport means includes downstream-side hold transport means provided near the transport cylinder, and for transporting the sheets while holding the sheets. 
     A fifth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the downstream-side transport means includes downstream-side hold transport means for transporting the sheets while holding the sheets, and a transfer period is set in which the downstream-side hold transport means as well as the transport cylinder and the outfeed wheel concurrently hold and transport the same one of the sheets. 
     A sixth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the fifth invention, characterized in that the downstream-side hold transport means includes a pair of infeed rollers. 
     A seventh invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the sixth invention, characterized by further including a guide belt wound around the transport cylinder, and guiding, to the infeed rollers, the sheets that are released from the hold by the holding means of the transport cylinder. 
     A eighth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the fifth invention, characterized in that the outfeed wheel includes: a large-diameter peripheral surface holding the sheets in cooperation with the transport cylinder; and a small-diameter peripheral surface located on an inner side than the large-diameter peripheral surface in a radial direction. 
     A ninth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the eighth invention, characterized in that the length of the large-diameter peripheral surface of the outfeed wheel in the peripheral directions is approximately equal to a transport distance of the sheets between an upstream-side hold position, at which the sheets are held by the large-diameter peripheral surface of the outfeed wheel and the transport cylinder in cooperation, and a downstream-side hold position, at which the sheets are held by the downstream-side hold transport means. 
     A Tenth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the eighth invention, characterized in that an angle between a line joining the axial center of the outfeed wheel and a hold start position of the sheets by the large-diameter peripheral surface of the outfeed wheel and the transport cylinder in cooperation and a line joining the axial center of the outfeed wheel and a hold end position of the sheets by the large-diameter peripheral surface of the outfeed wheel and the transport cylinder in cooperation is 110° or smaller. 
     A eleventh invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the eighth invention, characterized in that a cutout portion is formed in an end surface located between the rotation-direction downstream side of the large-diameter peripheral surface and the rotation-direction upstream side of the small-diameter peripheral surface of the outfeed wheel, in order to prevent the outfeed wheel from interfering with the transport-direction trailing end side of each of the preceding sheets. 
     A twelfth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the sheet overlap device causes the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding sheet and the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent sheet to overlap each other by making a relative difference between transport speeds of the preceding sheet and the subsequent sheet, and then feeds the sheets to the laminate means. 
     A thirteenth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the twelfth invention, characterized in that the sheet overlap device causes the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding sheet and the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent sheet to overlap each other by making a transport speed at which the preceding sheet is transported slower than that at which the subsequent sheet is transported, and then feeds the sheets to the laminate means. 
     The fourteenth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the sheet overlap device receives the sheets from printing means for printing on the sheets, and then feeds the sheets to the laminate means. 
     The fifteenth invention provides the sheet overlap device according to the first invention, characterized in that the outfeed wheel holds the sheets in cooperation with a peripheral surface of the transport cylinder. 
     EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the sheet overlap device of the present invention, it is possible to transport the sheets to the downstream-side transport means by holding, by the outfeed wheels and the transport cylinder in cooperation, the sheets released from the hold by the holding means of the transport cylinder. Accordingly, speedy and accurate lamination of sheets with a film can be performed easily. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic configuration diagram of an entire sheet overlap device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an extracted enlarged view of essential parts of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an extracted enlarged view of an overlap unit for causing paper sheets to overlap, shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a view seen from the direction of an arrow V in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of a smoothing roller shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of a control system. 
         FIG. 10  shows a view for explaining operations of the overlap unit and an outfeed roller shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  shows an operation explanation view subsequent to  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  shows an operation explanation view subsequent to  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a view for explaining an operation of an injector shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a view for explaining an operation of lift-up portions of finger holders shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 15  shows a graph describing a relationship between phase of an overlap cylinder and peripheral speed of an infeed roller. 
         FIG. 16  shows a graph describing a relationship between phase of the overlap cylinder and transport distance of a sheet. 
         FIG. 17  shows an explanatory diagram describing a feeding state of paper sheets in the overlap unit. 
         FIG. 18  shows an explanatory diagram describing a state of the paper sheets overlapped in the overlap unit. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Main Embodiment 
     An embodiment of a sheet-fed offset printing press including a sheet overlap device according to the present invention will be described on the basis of  FIGS. 1 to 9 .  FIG. 1  shows a schematic configuration diagram of an entire sheet-fed offset printing press according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  shows an extracted enlarged view of essential parts of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  shows an extracted enlarged view of an overlap unit shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  shows a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5  shows a view seen from the direction of an arrow V in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  shows a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 7  shows a sectional view taken along a line VII-VII in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of a smoothing roller shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of a control system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a supply unit  10  serving as sheet feed means includes a feeder board  11  feeding paper sheets  1  one paper sheet  1  at a time to a transfer cylinder  21   a , the paper sheet  1  each being a sheet. 
     An impression cylinder  22   a  of the first offset printing unit  20   a  of the printing unit  20  serving as printing means is provided so as to face the transfer cylinder  21   a . A blanket cylinder  23   a  is provided to face the impression cylinder  22   a  at a position downstream of the transfer cylinder  21   a  in the rotation direction of the impression cylinder  22   a . A plate cylinder  24   a  is in contact with the blanket cylinder  23   a  in a facing manner. The first offset printing unit  20   a  is provided with an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   a  and the like for supplying ink to the plate cylinder  24   a  as well as a dampening unit for supplying dampening water (not all of which are illustrated). 
     An impression cylinder  22   b  of a second offset printing unit  20   b  is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   a  facing the impression cylinder  22   a  of the first offset printing unit  20   b  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a transfer cylinder  21   b  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   b  and the impression cylinder  22   a . Similar to the first offset printing unit  20   a , the second offset printing unit  20   b  also includes a blanket cylinder  23   b , a plate cylinder  24   b , an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   b , a dampening unit, and the like, for example. 
     Moreover, an impression cylinder  22   c  of a third offset printing unit  20   c  is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   b  facing the impression cylinder  22   b  of the second offset printing unit  20   b  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a transfer cylinder  21   c  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   c  and the impression cylinder  22   b . Similar to the first and second offset printing units  20   a  and  20   b , the third offset printing unit  20   c  also includes a blanket cylinder  23   c , a plate cylinder  24   c , an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   c , a dampening unit, and the like, for example. 
     Moreover, an impression cylinder  22   d  of a fourth offset printing unit  20   d  is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   c  facing the impression cylinder  22   c  of the third offset printing unit  20   c  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a transfer cylinder  21   d  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   d  and the impression cylinder  22   c . Similar to the first to third offset printing units  20   a  to  20   c , the fourth offset printing unit  20   d  also includes a blanket cylinder  23   d , a plate cylinder  24   d , an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   d , a dampening unit, and the like, for example. 
     Moreover, an impression cylinder  22   e  of a fifth offset printing unit  20   e  is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   d  facing the impression cylinder  22   d  of the fourth offset printing unit  20   d  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a transfer cylinder  21   e  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   e  and the impression cylinder  22   d . Similar to the first to fourth offset printing units  20   a  to  20   e , the fifth offset printing unit  20   e  also includes a blanket cylinder  23   e , a plate cylinder  24   e , an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   e , a dampening unit, and the like, for example. 
     Moreover, an impression cylinder  22   f  of a sixth offset printing unit  20   f  is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   e  facing the impression cylinder  22   e  of the fifth offset printing unit  20   e  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a transfer cylinder  21   f  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   f  and the impression cylinder  22   e . Similar to the first to fifth offset printing units  20   a  to  20   e , the sixth offset printing unit  20   f  also includes a blanket cylinder  23   f , a plate cylinder  24   f , an ink supply unit including an ink fountain unit  25   f , a dampening unit, and the like, for example. 
     Furthermore, a holding cylinder  32  of a drying unit  30  serving as drying means is disposed downstream of the blanket cylinder  23   f  facing the impression cylinder  22   f  of the sixth offset printing unit  20   f  in the transport direction of paper sheets  1  while a skeleton transfer cylinder  31  is interposed between the impression cylinder  22   f  and the holding cylinder  32 . A dryer  33  for drying ink on the printed paper sheets  1  is disposed downstream of the transfer cylinder  31  in the rotation direction of the holding cylinder  32 . At a position downstream of the dryer  33  in the rotation direction of the holding cylinder  32 , a transfer cylinder  101  of an overlap unit  100  is in contact with the holding cylinder  32  in a facing manner, the overlap unit  100  serving as means (or a device) for causing the paper sheets  1  to overlap. The overlap unit  100  has the following configuration. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an overlap cylinder  110  serving as a transport cylinder is provided downstream of the holding cylinder  32  in the rotation direction of the transfer cylinder  101  serving as a reversing cylinder so as to face the transfer cylinder  101 . The overlap cylinder  110  is formed to have a diameter slightly smaller than (specifically, approximately 90% of) that of the transfer cylinder  101 . In addition, the overlap cylinder  110  is driven while being coupled to the transfer cylinder  101  with a gear or the like so as to rotate at the same rotation speed as the transfer cylinder  101 , that is, so as to rotate once when the transfer cylinder  101  rotates once. Accordingly, the overlap cylinder  110  rotates at a slower peripheral speed than that of the transfer cylinder  101 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a plurality of cutout portions  111   a  are formed on the peripheral surface of a cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  rotatably supported by a frame  1000 , and are formed at a predetermined distance from each other, and are each positioned so as to have the longer side along the axial directions of the cylinder body  111  (in this embodiment, two cutout portions  111   a  are provided so that one can be positioned at an angle of 180° from the other). 
     Inside each of the cutout portions  111   a  of the cylinder body  111 , a finger shaft  112  is rotatably supported so as to have the axial directions thereof along the axial directions of the cylinder body  111 . A plurality of finger holders  113  are attached to the finger shaft  112  along the axial directions of the finger shaft  112  at predetermined intervals. A finger  114  is provided at an end portion on rotation-direction upstream side of the cylinder body  111  of each of the finger holders  113 , that is at the end portion of each of the finger holders  113 . At the edges on the cylinder body  111  rotation-direction upstream side of the cutout portions  111   a  of the cylinder body  111 , a plurality of finger pads  115  are respectively provided along the axial directions of the cylinder body  111  at predetermined intervals so as to be located in positions corresponding to the fingers  114 . 
     Accordingly, by moving the fingers  114  in a radial direction of the cylinder body  111 , the fingers  114  can be brought closer to or away from the finger pads  115 . Thereby, the finger shaft  112  can be rotated when the cylinder body  111  is in a predetermined rotation phase, to hold or release the end of the paper sheet  1  (to be described later in detail). 
     In this embodiment, the above-described finger shaft  112 , finger holders  113 , fingers  114  and the like form a gripper that is movable outward of the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 . The gripper, the finger pads  115  and the like form gripper device constituting holding means for holding the paper sheets  1 . 
     On a side of the finger holders  113 , the side facing outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 , lift-up portions  113   a  are respectively provided. Each lift-up portions  113   a  is an arc shaped protruding portion protruding outward of the periphery of the cylinder body  111  in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 . The lift-up portions  113   a  of the finger holders  113  bear the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  in order to make a gap between the transport-direction trailing end of the paper sheet  1  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111 . Moreover, when the finger shaft  112  rotates to bring the finger pads  115  and the fingers  114  away from each other along with the rotation of the cylinder body  111 , the lift-up portions  113   a  move outward of the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111  along with the rotation of the finger shaft  112 . Thereby, the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  can be moved so as to be further away from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111  (which will be described later in detail). 
     Here, even though the lift-up portions  113   a  protrude outward of the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  in radial direction of the cylinder body  111 , the finger holders  113  dose not interfere with the peripheral surface of the transfer cylinder  101  since the lift-up portions  113   a  face the cutout portions formed in the peripheral surface of the transfer cylinder  101 . 
     At a position upstream of each of the cutout portions  111   a  of the cylinder body  111  in the rotation direction of the cylinder body  111 , that is, downstream of the finger holders  113  and the like in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , an injector  116  having injection ports  116   a  facing outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111  is provided along the entire axial-direction length of the cylinder body  111 . Each of the injectors  116  has the plurality of injection ports  116   a  formed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the cylinder body  111  so that the injection ports  116   a  can correspond approximately to the positions of the finger holders  113  in the axial directions of the cylinder body  111 . 
     The injection ports  116   a  of the injectors  116  are each connected to an unillustrated air compressor for supplying air. Accordingly, by causing the air compressors to operate, air is injected from the injection ports  116   a  outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 , so that the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  can be blown up to be away from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 . 
     In this embodiment, the above-described injectors  116 , air compressors and the like form air injection means. 
     At a position downstream of the transfer cylinder  101  in the rotation direction of the overlap cylinder  110 , outfeed wheels  121  are provided so as to face the overlap cylinder  110 . The outfeed wheels  121  each have a large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and a small-diameter peripheral surface  121   b , the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  cooperating with the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  to hold the paper sheet  1 , the small-diameter peripheral surface  121   b  positioning inner than the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  in radial direction. The plurality of outfeed wheels  121  are disposed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the cylinder body  111  so as to correspond to the positions of the finger holders  113  in the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110 . The outfeed wheels  121  are each supported by a support shaft  120  rotatably supported by the frame  1000 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a peripheral-direction length Lw of the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  of each of the outfeed wheels  121  is set to be slightly larger than a transport distance Lc of the paper sheet  1  between an upstream-side hold position at which the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  hold the paper sheet  1  and a downstream-side hold position at which upper infeed rollers  181  and lower infeed rollers  182 , which will be described later, hold the paper sheet  1 . Moreover, an angle θ between lines, one joining the shaft center of each of the outfeed wheels  121  and a hold start position, the other joining the shaft center of the corresponding outfeed wheel  121  and a hold end position, that is, the central angle (arc angle)  0  of the fan shape having the corresponding large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  as the arc, is set to be 110° or smaller, the hold start position and the hold end position being respectively start and end positions at which the corresponding large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  hold the paper sheet  1 . 
     The outfeed wheels  121  each have a cutout portion  121   c  formed at the edge surface between the downstream side end of the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and the upstream side end of the small-diameter peripheral surface  121   b  in the rotation direction of the outfeed wheel  121 , the a cutout portion  121   c  formed to avoid interference with the transport-direction trailing end side portion of the preceding paper sheet  1 . Furthermore, the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  of each of the outfeed wheels  121  is driven at the same peripheral speed as that of the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  (which will be described later in detail). 
     Near upstream-side hold position at which the overlap cylinder  110  and the corresponding outfeed wheels  121  hold the paper sheet  1 , a plurality of suction guides  131  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be located in positions different from those of the outfeed wheels  121  and the finger holders  113 , that is, positions between the adjacent outfeed wheels  121 , or the adjacent finger holders  113 , in the axial directions of the support shaft  120 . The suction guides  131  each have a plurality of suction ports  131   b  formed in a guide surface  131   a  facing the overlap cylinder  110 . The suction guides  131  are each supported by a support stay  130  supported by the frame  1000 . 
     The guide surfaces  131   a  of the suction guides  131  each extend from around the upstream-side hold position at which the overlap cylinder  110  and the corresponding outfeed wheels  121  hold the paper sheet  1 , toward the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheet  1 . The suction ports  131   b  of the suction guides  131  are connected to an unillustrated suction pump via through holes  130   a  formed inside the support stay  130 . Accordingly, by causing the suction pump to operate, the suction guides  131  can guide the paper sheet  1  with the guide surfaces  131   a  while sucking the paper sheet  1  so that the paper sheet  1  can be away from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 . 
     In this embodiment, the above-described support stay  130 , suction guides  131 , suction pump and the like form suction means. Furthermore, at least one of the suction means, the air injection means, the holding means (finger device) and the like forms move-away means for bringing the preceding paper sheet  1  away from the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110  in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, thereby bringing the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  away from the subsequent paper sheet  1  held by the overlap cylinder  110  in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. 
     A plurality of belt grooves  111   b  along the peripheral directions of the cylinder body  111  are formed at predetermined intervals on the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be located in positions different from those of the finger holders  113  in the axial directions of the cylinder body  111 , that is, positions between the adjacent finger holders  113 . 
     At the position downstream of the upstream-side hold position at which the overlap cylinder  110  and the corresponding outfeed wheels  121  hold the paper sheet  1  in the rotation direction of the overlap cylinder  110 , a plurality of pulleys  144  rotatably supported by the frame  1000  through a shaft  141 , arms  142  and shafts  143  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be located in positions different from those of the finger holders  113  in the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110 , that is, positions between the adjacent finger holders  113 , or the same positions as those of the belt grooves  111   b  of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 . 
     Lower constant-speed transport belts  157  serving as guide belts are wound respectively around the belt grooves  111   b  of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 . The lower constant-speed transport belts  157  are wound respectively around the pulleys  144 , and also respectively around pulleys  148  rotatably supported by the frame  1000  through a shaft  145 , arms  146  and shafts  147 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  7 . 
     Accordingly, the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  guides the paper sheets  1  by traveling via pulleys  144  and  148  along with the rotation of the overlap cylinder  110 . More specifically, the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  hold the paper sheet  1  together with the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110  while traveling integrally with the overlap cylinder  110  within a region in which the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  are stretched around the belt grooves  116  of the overlap cylinder  110 , to guide the paper sheet  1  in a region from the overlap cylinder  110  to the infeed rollers  181  and  183  to be described later. 
     In this embodiment, the above-described overlap cylinder  110 , support shaft  120 , outfeed wheels  121  and the like form upstream-side hold transport means. In addition, the upstream-side hold transport means, the transfer cylinder  101 , the shafts  141 ,  143 ,  145  and  147 , the arms  142  and  146 , the pulleys  144  and  148 , the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  serving as guiding means and the like form upstream-side transport means. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a first guide table  151  having a guide surface  151   a  for guiding the paper sheets  1  is provided downstream of the pulleys  144  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . A second guide table  152  having a guide surface  152   a  for guiding the paper sheets  1  is provided downstream of the first guide table  151  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , with a distance between the guide tables  151  and  152 . A third guide table  153  having a guide surface  153   a  for guiding the paper sheets  1  is provided downstream of the second guide table  152  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . 
     A plurality of suction ports  151   b  to  153   b  are formed in the guide surfaces  151   a  to  153   a  of the guide tables  151  to  153 , respectively. In the first guide table  151  or the third guide table  153 , each set of a plurality of suction ports  151   b  or  153   b  are aligned in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , and the suction ports  151   b  or  153   b  of each set from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  are arranged to be serially positioned from the inner side toward the outer side in the width directions of the first guide table  151  or the third guide table  153 . 
     Suction boxes  154  to  156  each being hollow in the middle are attached respectively to the lower surfaces of the guide tables  151  to  153 . The suction boxes  154  to  156  are supported by the frame  1000 , and are connected respectively to the suction ports  151   b  to  153   b . The guide tables  151  to  153  are supported by the frame  1000  through the suction boxes  154  to  156 . 
     The suction boxes  154  to  156  are each connected to an unillustrated suction pump. By causing the suction pumps to operate, the suction ports  151   b  to  153   b  of the guide tables  151  to  153  can suck the paper sheet  1  on the guide surfaces  151   a  to  153   a , through the suction boxes  154  to  156 . Here, since the suction ports  151   b  and  153   b  of the guide tables  151  and  153  are arranged as described above, the paper sheet  1  transported on the guide surface  151   a  of the guide table  151  or the guide surface  153   a  of the guide table  153  can be sucked while being pulled outwardly in the width directions of the corresponding guide table. 
     Near portions of the suction guides  131 , the portions being the end portions on the downstream side of the travel direction of the transport belts  157 , a plurality of pulleys  161  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be located in the same positions as the outfeed wheels  121 , that is, the positions between the adjacent suction guides  131  in the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110 . The pulleys  161  are each rotatably supported by a support shaft  160  supported by the frame  1000 . 
     Above the guide surface  151   a  of the first guide table  151 , a plurality of pulleys  163  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be located in the same positions as those of the pulleys  161  in the axial directions of the support shaft  160 . The pulleys  163  are each rotatably supported by a support shaft  162  supported by the frame  1000 . 
     Upper variable-speed transport belts  158  are hanged respectively over the pairs of the pulleys  161  and  163 , and are also hanged respectively over pulleys  167  rotatably supported above the first guide table  151  by the frame  1000  through a shaft  164 , arms  165  and shafts  166 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . 
     A driving roller  168  which is rotatably supported is pressed against the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  above the first guide table  151 . Accordingly, when the driving roller  168  is driven and rotated, the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  are caused to travel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the positions, the diameter sizes and the like of the pulleys  144  and  161  are set so that spaces can be made respectively between the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  and the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  in the height directions. Moreover, the positions, the sizes and the like of the suction guides  131  and the pulleys  161  are set so that the guide surfaces  131   a  of the suction guides  131  can continuously connect with the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 , respectively, in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , on an end portion of the guide table  151 , the end portion being on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , a plurality of pulleys  172  rotatably supported by the shaft  141  through arms  170  and shafts  171  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be in the same positions as those of the finger holders  113  in the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110 , that is, the same positions as those of the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 , or the positions between the adjacent lower constant-speed transport belts  157 . 
     At portions of the guide surfaces  152   a  and  153   a , the portions being between the second guide table  152  and the third guide table  153 , a plurality of pulleys  174  are provided at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the overlap cylinder  110  so as to be in the same positions as those of the pulleys  172  along the axial directions of the shaft  141 . The pulleys  174  are each rotatably supported by a support shaft  173  supported by the frame  1000 . 
     Lower variable-speed transport belts  159  are hanged respectively over the pairs of the pulleys  172  and  174  so as to be able to travel on the guide surfaces  151   a  and  152   a  of the first and second guide tables  151  and  152 . The lower variable-speed transport belts  159  are also hanged respectively over pulleys  178  rotatably supported below the guide tables  151  to  153  by the frame  1000  through a shaft  175 , arms  176  and shafts  177 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . 
     A driving roller  179  that is rotatably supported is pressed against the lower variable-speed transport belts  159 . Accordingly, when the driving roller  179  is driven and rotated, the lower variable-speed transport belts  159  are caused to travel. 
     Thus, since each of the pairs of the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  and the lower variable-speed transport belts  159  travel while overlapping each other between the corresponding pulleys  172  and  163 , the paper sheet  1  can be held while being transported. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , near portions of the overlap cylinder  110 , the portions being upstream of the pulleys  144  between the pulleys  161  and the pulleys  163  in the travel direction, the upper infeed rollers  181  are rotatably supported by the frame  1000 . The upper infeed rollers  181  are provided with grooves for guiding the travel of the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 , the grooves being in the same positions as the corresponding upper variable-speed transport belts  158  in the axial direction of the support shafts  160  and  162 . 
     Near portions of the overlap cylinder  110 , the portions being between the overlap cylinder  110  and the pulleys  144 , the lower infeed rollers  182 , which are in contact respectively with the upper infeed rollers  181  in a facing manner, are rotatably supported by the frame  1000 . The lower infeed rollers  182  are provided with grooves for guiding the travel of the lower constant-speed transport belts  158 , so as to be in the same positions as the corresponding upper variable-speed transport belts  158  and lower constant-speed transport belts  157  in the axial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . 
     The height positions of the upper infeed rollers  181  and the lower infeed rollers  182  are set so that each of the pairs of the upper infeed rollers  181  and the lower infeed rollers  182  can be in contact with each other at the same height as that of a transport surface of the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 . Accordingly, when the rollers  181  and  182  are driven and rotated, the rollers  181  rollers  182  hold the paper sheet  1  transported by being guided between the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  and the lower constant-speed transport belts  157 , to deliver the paper sheet  1  to a position between the upper variable-speed transport belts  158  and the lower variable-speed transport belts  159 . 
     In this embodiment, infeed rollers  181  and  182 , and the like form downstream-side hold transport means. In addition, the downstream-side hold transport means, shafts  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  171 ,  173 ,  175  and  177 , pulleys  161 ,  163 ,  167 ,  172 ,  174  and  178 , arms  165  and  176 , driving rollers  168  and  179 , variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 , and the like form downstream-side transport means. 
     Below the position between the first guide table  151  and the second guide table  152 , receiving rollers  191  are rotatably supported by the frame  1000 . The receiving rollers  191  are provided with grooves for guiding the travel of the lower variable-speed transport belts  159 , the grooves being in the same positions as the corresponding lower variable-speed transport belts  159  in the axial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . The receiving rollers  191  are disposed so that the highest position of the peripheral surface of each of the receiving rollers  191  can be located at the same height as that of the guide surfaces  151   a  and  152   a  of the guide tables  151  and  152 . 
     Above a position between the first guide table  151  and the second guide table  152 , a smoothing roller  195  is provided so as to be in contact with the receiving rollers  191  in a facing manner. At least peripheral surface of the smoothing roller is made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin. 
     On the peripheral surface of the smoothing roller  195 , a plurality of belt grooves  195   a  for avoiding the smoothing roller  195  from interfering with the lower variable-speed transport belts  159  are formed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the smoothing roller  195 . Moreover, on the peripheral surface of the smoothing roller  195 , a plurality of inclined grooves  195   b , each of which is a groove inclining toward the axial-direction central side from the peripheral surface to the center in the radial direction, are formed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the smoothing roller  195 , so that bending portions  195   c , each of which extending from the axial-direction central side toward the axial-direction outer sides, are formed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the smoothing roller  195  (see  FIG. 8 ). The smoothing roller  195  is rotatably supported by the frame  1000  through shafts  192 , arms  193  and a shaft  194 , and is pressed against the receiving rollers  191 . 
     With this configuration, the smoothing roller  195 , together with the receiving rollers  191 , presses the paper sheet  1  therebetween, the bending portions  195   c  thereby bend toward the axial-direction outer sides of the smoothing roller  195 , and the smoothing roller  195  rotates along with traveling of the transported paper sheet  1 , so that a tension is applied to the paper sheet  1  in the width direction of the smoothing roller  195 . Thus, the smoothing roller  195  can smooth out the paper sheet  1 . 
     In this embodiment, the above-described receiving roller  191 , shafts  192 , arms  193 , shaft  194 , smoothing roller  195  and the like form smoothing means. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a holding roller  102  for pressing the paper sheets  1  against the guide surface  153   a  is provided above a portion downstream of the guide surface  153   a  of the third guide table  153  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b  of a laminate unit  40  serving as laminate means are provided downstream of the third guide table  153  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . A pair of second laminate rollers  42   a  and  42   b  are provided downstream in the rotation direction of the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b . On the downstream side of the rotation direction of the second laminate rollers  42   a  and  42   b , a pair of feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  are provided. 
     Above the rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a ,  42   b ,  43   a  and  43   b , a feed shaft  44  for feeding a film  2 , which is a web-like laminate material in a rolled state, is provided. Near the feed shaft  44 , a pair of film feed rollers  45   a  and  45   b  for sending out the rolled film  2  held by the feed shaft  44 , and a winding shaft  46  for winding a release paper  3  from the film  2  delivered by the film feed rollers  45   a  and  45   b , are provided. Near the winding shaft  46 , a plurality of guide rollers  47   a  and  47   b  for guiding the film  2  delivered by the film feed rollers  45   a  and  45   b  to a position between the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b  are provided. 
     Between the guide rollers  47   a  and  47   b , a dancer roller  48 , around which the film  2  between the guide rollers  47   a  and  47   b  are hanged, and which can move upwardly and downwardly, is provided. The dancer roller  48  moves upwardly or downwardly in accordance with a desired speed at which the film  2  is to be fed to the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b , so that the speed at which the film  2  is delivered from the feed shaft  44  and also the speed at which the release paper  3  is wound by the winding shaft  46  can be kept constant. 
     With this configuration, in the laminate unit  40 , the film feed rollers  45   a  and  45   b  send out the film  2  held by the feed shaft  44 . Then, the winding shaft  46  winds and thereby collects the release paper  3 . The film  2  is fed into the position between the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b , and then into the position between the second laminate rollers  42   a  and  42   b  via the guide rollers  47   a ,  47   b , the dancer roller  48  and the like. Thereafter, the film  2  is continuously laminated to the paper sheets  1 , and the laminated paper sheets  1  are consequently delivered from the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b , the paper sheets  1  having caused to overlap each other in the overlap unit  100  so that a trailing end portion of the preceding paper sheet  1  and a leading end portion of the subsequent paper sheet  1  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  can overlap each other. Here, the reference numeral  49  in  FIG. 2  indicates a guide roller for guiding the release paper  3 . 
     A cutting mechanism  51  of a cutting unit  50  serving as cutting means is provided downstream in the rotation direction of the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b . In the cutting mechanism  51 , a blade  51   a  is inserted between the overlapping end portions of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1 . Then, the blade  51   a  is moved in the width directions of the paper sheets  1 . Thereby, the film  2  continuously laminating the paper sheets  1  is cut for each of the paper sheets  1  (for more details, see Patent Document 2, for example). 
     A belt-type transport mechanism  61  of a separation unit  60  serving as separation means is provided downstream of the cutting mechanism  51  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . A pair of acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b  for sending out the paper sheets  1  at a speed faster than the transport speed of the transport mechanism  61  is provided downstream of the transport mechanism  61  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . A guide member  63  for guiding the paper sheets  1  delivered from position between the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b  toward a send-out direction is provided downstream in the rotation direction of the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b.    
     With this configuration, the continuous film  2  is cut by the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , and is thereby separated for each of the paper sheets  1 . The separated paper sheets  1  are fed to a position between the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b  through the transport mechanism  61 , and are then delivered at a speed faster than the transport speed of the transport mechanism  61 . Thereby, the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  are separately delivered one by one. 
     A belt-type transport mechanism  71  of a delivery unit  70  serving as sheet delivery means is provided downstream of the guide member  63  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  to communicate with the guide member  63 . Below a position downstream of the transport mechanism  71  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , a delivery board  73  is provided. A delivery cam  72  for causing the paper sheets  1  transported by the transport mechanism  71  to fall onto the delivery board  73  is provided downstream of the transport mechanism  71  in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 . 
     With this configuration, the paper sheets  1  separated by the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b  of the separation unit  60  are one by one transported by the transport mechanism  71  and consequently delivered onto the delivery board  73  by the delivery cam  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a rotary encoder  104  serving as phase detection means for detecting the rotation phase of the overlap cylinder  110  by detecting the phase of the sheet-fed offset printing press is electrically connected to the control device  105  serving as control means. A variable-speed-side drive source  103  for causing the driving rollers  168  and  179  of the overlap unit  100 , the rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a ,  42   b ,  43   a  and  43   b  of the laminate unit  40 , the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , the belt driving rollers of the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60 , and the like to operate in association is electrically connected to the control device  105 . In addition, a sheet-size input device  106  and an overlap-margin input device  107  are also electrically connected to the control device  105 , the sheet-size input device  106  serving as sheet length setting means for setting the length of the paper sheet in the printing direction (transport direction), the overlap-margin input device  107  serving as overlap-margin setting means for setting a film-laminate-direction (transport-direction) overlap amount (overlap margin) at the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent paper sheet  1 . On the basis of information from the rotary encoder  104  and the input devices  106  and  107 , the control device  105  can control the operation of the variable-speed-side drive source  103  to make the overlap amount (overlap margin) equal to the set amount (which will be described later in detail). Here, the reference numeral  108  in  FIG. 9  denotes a printing-press drive source electrically connected to the control device  105  to drive the sheet-fed offset printing press. 
     Operations of the sheet-fed offset printing press according to this embodiment will be described on the basis of  FIGS. 10 to 18 .  FIG. 10  shows an operation explanation view of the overlap cylinder and the outfeed roller shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 11  shows an operation explanation view subsequent to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  shows an operation explanation view subsequent to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 13  shows an operation explanation view of the injector shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 14  shows an operation explanation view of the lift-up portions of the finger holders shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 15  shows a graph describing a relationship between phase of the overlap cylinder and peripheral speed of the infeed roller.  FIG. 16  shows a graph describing a relationship between phase of the overlap cylinder and transport distance of a paper sheet.  FIG. 17  shows an explanatory diagram describing a transport state of paper sheets in the overlap unit.  FIG. 18  shows an explanatory diagram describing a state of the paper sheets overlapped in the overlap unit. 
     Firstly, the print-direction (transport-direction) length of the paper sheets  1  and a film-laminate-direction (transport-direction) overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  are inputted to the input devices  106  and  107 , and are thereby set. Subsequently, the paper sheets  1  stacked on the feeder  10  are one by one fed to the transfer cylinder  21   a  through the feeder board  11 , and are then each transferred to the impression cylinder  22   a  of the first offset printing unit  20   a  of the printing unit  20 . Ink and dampening water supplied from the ink supply unit and the dampening unit to the plate cylinder  24   a  are transferred onto the paper sheet  1  through the blanket cylinder  23   a , and printing of the first color is thus applied to the paper sheet  1 . Thereafter, the paper sheet  1  is transferred to the impression cylinder  22   b  of the second offset printing unit  20   b  through the transfer cylinder  21   b , and printing of the second color is applied to the paper sheet  1  in the second offset printing unit  20   b  as in the first offset printing unit  20   a . Similarly, printing of the third color to printing of the sixth color are applied to the paper sheet  1  in the third to sixth offset printing units  20   c  to  20   f . Thereafter, the paper sheet  1  is transferred to the holding cylinder  32  of the drying unit  30  through the transfer cylinder  31 , and the inks printed on the paper sheet  1  in the printing units  20   a  to  20   f  are dried by the dryer  33 . 
     The paper sheet  1  the ink on which is dried in the drying unit  30  is transported through the transfer cylinder  101  of the overlap unit  100 . Then, the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is gripped by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  of the overlap cylinder  110 , and is thereby held and transported by the overlap cylinder  110 . 
     Here, since the cylinder body  111  has a smaller diameter than that of the transfer cylinder  101 , the peripheral speed of the overlap cylinder  110  is slower than that of the transfer cylinder  101 . Accordingly, the overlap cylinder  110  transports the paper sheets  1  at a slower speed than that of the transfer cylinder  101 , that is, transports the paper sheets  1  at a reduced speed. Thus, the cylinder body  111  can function as sheet speed reduction means. 
     Then, the paper sheet  1  transported by being held around the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  is pressed by the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  of the outfeed wheels  121  when passing the outfeed wheels  121 , and is thereby held by the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  of the outfeed wheels  121  and the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  in cooperation (see  FIG. 10 ). The outfeed wheels  121  are set to have such a phase that the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  can start pressing the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  from a position near the fingers  114  while avoiding contact with the fingers  114 . 
     After the paper sheet  1  is held by the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  of the outfeed wheels  121  in cooperation with the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 , the finger shaft  112  of the overlap cylinder  110  rotates to bring the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  away from each other. Thereby, the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is released from the grip and retention by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     Here, the paper sheet  1  is first held by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 , and the grip and retention by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  is released. Accordingly, the paper sheet  1  can be transported without being out of alignment. 
     Then, a position of the paper sheet  1 , the position where the paper sheet  1  is held by the outfeed wheels  121  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 , moves downstream in the rotation-direction, that is, downstream in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , along with the rotation of the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121 . Consequently, the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is gradually separated from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     Subsequently, along with further rotation of the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121 , the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is delivered to a position between the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  and the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 . 
     In this event, since the suction pump operates to cause the suction guides  131  to suck at the suction ports  131   b , the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  is sucked by and adheres to the suction guides  131 . Accordingly, the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is delivered below the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet without clashing with the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding sheet. 
     Along with further rotation of the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121 , the paper sheet  1  transported from the position between the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  is transported to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  while being guided between the lower constant-speed transport belts  157  and the upper variable-speed transport belts  158 . 
     When the transport-direction leading end side of the paper sheet  1  is held between the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , the paper sheet  1  is brought away from the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a , and is released from the state held between the outfeed wheels  121  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 . 
     Here, the paper sheet  1  is firstly held by the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , and is then released from the state held between the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 . In other words, the configuration is made to have a period in which the paper sheet  1  is transferred while being held between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  as well as between the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  concurrently. Accordingly, the paper sheet  1  is transferred to the position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  without being out of alignment. 
     Then, when the paper sheet  1  is held between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  and is released from the state held between the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  (phase in  FIG. 15 ), the control device  105  detects the current phase on the basis of the information from the rotary encoder  104 , and then controls the variable-speed drive source  103 : to once reduce the speeds of the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 , the receiving rollers  191 , the laminate rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a  and  42   b  and the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  of the laminate unit  40 , the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60  and the like, to be lower than the speed at which the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  transport the paper sheet  1  (includes stopped state); and to thereafter increases the speeds of the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 , the receiving rollers  191 , the laminate rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a  and  42   b  and the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  of the laminate unit  40 , the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60  and the like, up to the speed at which the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  transport the sheet, by the time the subsequent paper sheet  1  is held around the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  and is then held between the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  of the outfeed wheels  121  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  (phase β in  FIG. 15 : at the completion of 1 cycle). 
     With this configuration, the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  by the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 , the receiving rollers  191  and the like becomes equal to or lower than the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 , so that the transport speed of the preceding paper sheet  1  transported by the members  158 ,  159 ,  181 ,  182 ,  191  and the like becomes lower than the transport speed of the subsequent paper sheet  1  transported by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 . Consequently, the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent paper sheet  1  overlaps the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 . 
     Then, the speed of the members  158 ,  159 ,  181 ,  182 ,  191  and the like, the operations of which have once slowed down or stopped, increases again up to the same speed as the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 , so that the transport speed of the preceding paper sheet  1  by the members  158 ,  159 ,  181 ,  182 ,  191  and the like comes to the same as that of the subsequent paper sheet  1  by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 . Thereby, the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent paper sheet  1  is held by the infeed rollers  181  and  183  while being in a state of overlapping the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 . 
     Here, since the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  by the members  158 ,  159 ,  181 ,  182 ,  191  and the like becomes the same as that by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 , when the infeed rollers  181  and  182  as well as the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  hold the same paper sheet  1  (the subsequent paper sheet  1 ) simultaneously, this paper sheet  1  can be transported at the same speed, without any difference in speed between the transport-direction leading end side and the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1 . Thereby, the paper sheet  1  can be transported without being bent, and the transport of the paper sheets  1  can be carried out without any jam. 
     Specifically, on the basis of the vertical-direction (transport-direction) length of the paper sheets  1  and the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  set in advance, the control device  105  sets the speed change rates of the infeed rollers  181  and  182  as well as the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 , the receiving rollers  191 , the laminate rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a  and  42   b  and the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  of the laminate unit  40 , the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60  and the like so that these rates would be in any of the states shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     To be more specific, when the vertical-direction length of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is small, or the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is large, the control device  105  controls the operation of the variable-speed drive source  103  with such a setting that the speed reduction rate would be large (the alternate long and short dash line in  FIG. 15 ). 
     By contrast, when the vertical-direction length of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is large, or the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is small, the control device  105  controls the operation of the variable-speed drive source  103  with such a setting that the speed reduction rate would be small (the solid line in  FIG. 15 ). 
     Further, when the vertical-direction length of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is extremely small, or the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  set in advance is extremely large, the control device  105  controls the operation of the variable-speed drive source  103  with such a setting that the speed reduction rate would include a temporally stop (the broken line in  FIG. 15 ). 
     Here, the above-described control device  105  controls the operation of the above-described variable-speed drive source  103  by a method of calculating the change rate by using an arithmetic expression stored in advance, on the basis of the vertical-direction length and the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  inputted from the input devices  106  and  107 , or by a method of choosing a change rate pattern among the change rate patterns stored in advance, the change rate patterns corresponding to the vertical-direction length and the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) of the paper sheets  1  inputted from the input devices  106  and  107 , for example. 
     With this configuration, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the transport distance of the paper sheets  1  by the infeed rollers  181  and  182  per unit time is smaller than that by the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  per unit time. Accordingly, the distance between the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  can be shortened by a distance C, so that the subsequent paper sheet  1  can overlap the preceding paper sheet  1 . 
     Subsequently, when the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is separated from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  along with further rotation of the overlap cylinder  110 , the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is blown up toward the suction guides  131  side by the air injection from the injection ports  116   a  of the injector  116  of the overlap cylinder  110  caused by the operation of the compressor, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Thereby, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is moved to a direction orthogonal to a plane along the transport direction, in other words, is moved so as to be away from the overlap cylinder  110  outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . Thus, transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is prevented from returning to the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110 . 
     Here, the paper sheet  1  that has been subsequent to the preceding paper sheet  1  becomes a new preceding paper sheet  1 , and the transport-direction trailing end side thereof is to overlap a new subsequent paper sheet  1 . 
     Then, when the overlap cylinder  110  further rotates, the finger holders  113  come to be located below the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 . Thereby, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is supported in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction by the lift-up portions  113   a  so as to have a space between the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 . Thus, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is separated from the subsequent paper sheet  1  transported while being held by the overlap cylinder  110 , for certain. 
     Thereafter, when the subsequent paper sheet  1 , similarly to the preceding paper sheet  1 , is held around the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  and is then held between the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  and the large-diameter peripheral surfaces  121   a  of the outfeed wheels  121 , the finger shaft  112  rotates so as to bring the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  of the overlap cylinder  110  away from each other as described above. Thereby, the lift-up portions  113   a  of the finger holders  113  of the overlap cylinder  110  move outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Consequently, the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  is moved to be further away from the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper sheet  1 , and is lifted up toward the suction guide  131 . Thus, a space is ensured between the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  transported while being held by the overlap cylinder  110 , for certain. 
     In short, the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  is lifted up so as to be away from the subsequent paper sheet  1  transported by the overlap cylinder  110 , for sure, and is thereby sucked to adhere to the guide surfaces  131   a  of the suction guides  131 , for sure, by the air injection from the injection ports  116   a  of the injector  116  of the overlap cylinder  110  (see  FIG. 13 ), by the lift-up by the lift-up portions  113   a  of the finger holders  113  (see  FIG. 14 ), and by the suction by the suction ports  131   b  of the suction guides  131  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     Thereby, the preceding paper sheet  1  is transported by the infeed rollers  181  and  182  while keeping the state of being away from the subsequent paper sheet  1 . Accordingly, the transport-direction leading end side of the subsequent paper sheet  1  is delivered below the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  to overlap with the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 , for sure. 
     Here, the cutout portion  121   c  is formed in the end surface between the rotation-direction upstream side of the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and the rotation-direction downstream side of the small-diameter peripheral surface  121   b  of each of the outfeed wheels  121 . Consequently, the preceding paper sheet  1  is transported without the transport-direction trailing end side interfering with the outfeed wheels  121 . Accordingly, the paper sheet  1  is prevented from being damaged for certain. 
     The paper sheets  1  are transported so that the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  can be transported as described above. As a result, the interval between a preceding paper sheet  1 A and a subsequent paper sheet  1 B is shortened, and the preceding paper sheet  1 A and the subsequent paper sheet  1 B are delivered from the position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  in such a manner that transport-direction trailing end side of a lower surface of the preceding paper sheet  1 A, that is, the surface opposite to the surface to be laminated, can overlap the transport-direction leading end side of an upper surface of the subsequent paper sheet  1 B, that is, the surface to be laminated, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
     The paper sheets  1  delivered from the position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  with the transport-direction end portions overlapping each other are then fed to a position between the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159  to be further transported onto the guide table  151 . 
     The paper sheets  1  transported onto the guide table  151  are fed to a position between the receiving rollers  191  and the smoothing roller  195  by the lower variable-speed transport belts  159  while being sucked due to the suction by the suction ports  151   b  to  153   b  of the guide tables  151  to  153 , the suction caused by the suction pump through the suction boxes  154  to  156 . 
     As described above, a plurality of the suction ports  151   b  are formed in the first guide table  151  in a way that each set of a plurality of suction ports  151   b  are aligned in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , and the suction ports  151   b  of each set from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  are arranged to be serially positioned from the inner side toward the outer side in the width directions of the first guide table  151 . Accordingly, the paper sheets  1  are sucked so as to be pulled toward width-direction outer sides, and are thus smoothed out toward the width-direction outer sides. 
     Then, after the paper sheets  1  fed to the position between the receiving roller  191  and the smoothing roller  195  are reliably smoothed out toward the width-direction outer sides in the above-described way, the paper sheets  1  are fed onto the guide surface  153   a  of the guide table  153  via the guide surface  152   a  of the guide table  152  by the lower variable-speed transport belt  159 , and are further fed to a position between the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b  of the laminate unit  40  while being held by the holding roller  102 . 
     As described above, a plurality of the suction ports  153   b  are formed in the third guide table  153  in a way that each set of a plurality of suction ports  153   b  are aligned in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , and the suction ports  153   b  of each set from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  are arranged to be serially positioned from the inner side toward the outer side in the width directions of the third guide table  153 . Accordingly, the paper sheets  1  are sucked so as to be pulled toward width-direction outer sides, and are thus smoothed out toward the width-direction outer sides. 
     Then, the paper sheets  1  fed to a position between the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b  and overlapping imbricately are continuously laminated by feeding the film  2  held by the feed shaft  44  into a position between the first laminate rollers  41   a  and  41   b  as described above. The laminated paper sheets  1  are fed to a position between the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  after being pressed by the second laminate rollers  42   a  and  42   b , and are then continuously delivered from the position between the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b  together with the film  2 . 
     In order to cut the film  2  in the width directions as described above, the blade  51   a  of the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50  is inserted into a position between the transport-direction trailing end side of the lower surface of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the transport-direction leading end side of the upper surface of the subsequent paper sheet  1  of the paper sheets  1  continuously delivered together with the film  2  from the position between the feeding rollers  43   a  and  43   b . Thereby, the film  2  continuously laminating the paper sheets  1  is cut for each of the paper sheets  1  (for more details, see Patent Document 2 and the like described above, for example). 
     The paper sheets  1  with the web-like film  2  cut for each of the paper sheets  1  are transported by the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60  to be fed to a position between the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b . The paper sheets  1  are then delivered through the acceleration rollers  62   a  and  62   b  at a speed faster than the transport speed of the transport mechanism  61 , and are thereby delivered separately one by one with a space between the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1 . Thereafter, the paper sheets  1  are fed one by one to the transport mechanism  71  of the delivery unit  70  through the guide member  63 , and are then separately delivered onto the delivery board  73  by the delivery cam  72 . 
     By repeating the above-described operations, the paper sheets  1  can be first printed with ink, and then laminated with the film  2 , in a consecutive manner. 
     In short, in this embodiment, the overlap unit  100  causes a relative difference between the transport speeds of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  from the printing unit  20 , to feed, to the laminate unit  40 , the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  transported while having a space from each other, in such a manner that the transport-direction trailing end side of the lower surface of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the transport-direction leading end side of the upper surface of the subsequent paper sheet  1  can overlap each other. 
     According to this embodiment, it is possible to speedily perform printing on the paper sheets  1  by passing the paper sheets  1  once (in line) and then perform lamination on the paper sheets  1  with the film  2 , in a small space. In addition, the following effects can also be obtained. 
     (1) The radius of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110  of the overlap unit  100  is set to be smaller than that of the transfer cylinder  101 . Accordingly, the overlap cylinder  110  can be rotated at a slower peripheral speed than that of the transfer cylinder  101 , and the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  can thereby be decreased before the transport of the paper sheets  1  reaches the infeed rollers  181  and  182 . With this configuration, the time for allowing the transport speed of the paper sheets  1  by the infeed rollers  181  and  182  to change can be set long. Thus, even a situation in which the vertical-direction length of the paper sheets  1  is extremely small, or in which the vertical-direction overlap amount (overlap margin) is extremely large, can be addressed, so that the paper sheets  1  can overlap each other without any decrease in printing speed, and so that the lamination of the paper sheets  1  with the film  2  can be reliably performed without any decrease in processing capacity. 
     (2) The paper sheets  1  are each first held by the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  of the overlap unit  100 , and the hold of the paper sheet  1  by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  is then released. Accordingly, a state in which the paper sheet  1  is not held around the overlap cylinder  110  is avoided, so that the paper sheet  1  can be transported without being out of alignment. In addition, a stable overlap amount (overlap margin) without variation can be obtained accurately. Furthermore, the paper sheets  1  can be caused to overlap each other while being aligned in the width directions (horizontal directions). 
     (3) The paper sheet  1  is first held by the infeed rollers  181  and  182  of the overlap unit  100 , and is released from the state of being held between the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110 . In other words, the configuration is made to have a period in which the paper sheet  1  is transferred while being held between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  as well as between the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  concurrently. Accordingly, a state in which the paper sheet  1  is not held by any of the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , as well as the outfeed wheels  121  and the overlap cylinder  110  can be avoided. Consequently, the paper sheet  1  can be transferred to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  without being out of alignment. Hence, a stable overlap amount (overlap margin) without variation can be obtained accurately. In addition, the paper sheets  1  can be caused to overlap each other while being aligned in the width directions (horizontal directions). 
     (4) The cutout portion  121   c  is formed in the end surface between the rotation-direction downstream side of the large-diameter peripheral surface  121   a  and the rotation-direction upstream side of the small-diameter peripheral surface  121   b  of each of the outfeed wheels  121  of the overlap unit  100 . Consequently, the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 , the transport speed of which is reduced by the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , is prevented from interfering with the outfeed wheels  121 . Thus, occurrence of damaged paper sheets can be prevented. 
     (5) In the suction guides  131  of the overlap unit  100 , the suction ports  131   b  are set to suck the paper sheet  1 , so that the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, in other words, moved so as to be away from the overlap cylinder  110  outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . Accordingly, when the subsequent paper sheet  1  is delivered from the overlap cylinder  110 , the collision of the subsequent paper sheet  1  with the preceding paper sheet  1  can be avoided. Hence, occurrence of waste paper sheets such as a paper sheet with a scratch mark on the printing surface can be prevented. In addition, the subsequent paper sheet  1  can be delivered below the preceding paper sheet  1 , which enables these paper sheets  1  to overlap each other certainly. 
     (6) Air is set to be injected from the injection ports  116   a  of the injector  116  of the overlap cylinder  110  of the overlap unit  100 . Accordingly, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is blown up toward the suction guide  131  side to be moved in a direction orthogonal to a plane along the transport direction, that is, moved so as to be away from the overlap cylinder  110  outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . Hence, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  is prevented from returning to the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110 , and the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  can thus overlap each other certainly. In addition, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  can be sucked to adhere to the guide surfaces  131   a  of the suction guides  131 , for certain. 
     (7) The lift-up portions  113   a  protruding outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110  are provided respectively to the finger holders  113  of the overlap cylinder  110  of the overlap unit  100 . Accordingly, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  can be supported so as to have a space between the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111 , the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  positioned outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 . Hence, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  can be certainly separated from the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110  in a direction orthogonal to a plane along the transport direction. Moreover, when the hold of the subsequent paper sheet  1  by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  of the overlap cylinder  110  is released, the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  can be lifted up so as to be further away from the overlap cylinder  110  in the direction orthogonal to a plane along the transport direction of the paper sheet  1 . Thereby, a space can be certainly formed between the peripheral surface of the overlap cylinder  110  and the preceding paper sheet  1 . Thus, the preceding paper sheet  1  and the subsequent paper sheet  1  can be caused to overlap each other certainly. In addition, the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  can be sucked to adhere to the guide surfaces  131   a  of the suction guides  131 , for certain. 
     (8) In the first guide table  151  or the third guide table  153 , each set of a plurality of suction ports  151   b  or  153   b  are aligned in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1 , and the suction ports  151   b  or  153   b  of each set from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets  1  are arranged to be serially positioned from the inner side toward the outer side in the width directions of the first guide table  151  or the third guide table  153 . Accordingly, the paper sheet  1  can be sucked so as to be pulled toward the width-direction outer sides, and the paper sheet  1  can thereby be smoothed out toward the width-direction outer sides. Hence, the laminate film  2  can be caused to closely adhere to entire surface of the paper sheet  1  evenly. Hence, the paper sheet  1  can be subjected to high-quality lamination. 
     (9) The paper sheet  1  is smoothed out by pressing the smoothing roller  195  against the receiving rollers  191 , the smoothing roller  195  made of a flexible material and including the plurality of inclined grooves  195   b , each of which is a groove inclining toward the axial-direction central side in the radial direction from the peripheral surface to the center, and which are formed at predetermined intervals along the axial directions of the smoothing roller  195 , in order to be able to bend toward the axial-direction outer sides. Accordingly, the transported paper sheet  1  can be certainly smoothed out toward the width-direction outer sides. In addition, the lamination of the film  2  can adhere to the entire surface of the paper sheet evenly. Hence, the paper sheet  1  can be subjected to high-quality lamination. 
     Other Embodiments 
     In the above-described embodiment, the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  are set to rotate at a slower peripheral speed than that of the transfer cylinder  101  by using the overlap cylinder  110  with a smaller radius than that of the transfer cylinder  101 . However, in another embodiment, it is also possible to use an overlap cylinder with the same radius as that of the transfer cylinder  101  so as to set the overlap cylinder and the outfeed wheels to rotate at the same peripheral speed as that of the transfer cylinder  101 , for example. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the paper sheet  1  is held by the outfeed wheels  121  in cooperation with the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 . However, in another embodiment, the paper sheet may be held by the outfeed wheels  121  in cooperation with the lower constant-speed belts  157  stretched around the cylinder body  111  of the overlap cylinder  110 , instead, for example. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the speeds of the receiving rollers  191 , the laminate rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a ,  42   b  and feeding rollers  43   a ,  43   b  of the laminate unit  40 , the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50 , the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60 , and the like are changed in the same manner as the speed change of the downstream-side transport means such as the infeed rollers  181  and  182  and the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 . However, in another embodiment, a configuration can be made such that at least the speeds of the receiving rollers  191 , the laminate rollers  41   a ,  41   b ,  42   a ,  42   b  and feeding rollers  43   a ,  43   b  of the laminate unit  40  and the cutting mechanism  51  of the cutting unit  50  would be changed in the same manner as the speed change of the downstream-side transport means such as the infeed rollers  181  and  182  and the variable-speed transport belts  158  and  159 . With this configuration, even when the speed of the transport mechanism  61  of the separation unit  60  is set at a constant speed so as not to change, it is possible to perform lamination of the film  2  on the paper sheets  1  without destroying the state of the paper sheets  1  overlapping each other, and to then cut the film  2  for each of the paper sheets  1  certainly. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the paper sheet  1  transferred from the printing unit  20  via the drying unit  30  is fed to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  by the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  via the transfer cylinder  101  of the overlap unit  100 . In another embodiment, however, the upstream-side transport means in the overlap means can be included in the printing means, the drying means or the like, for example. Specifically, the transfer cylinder  101  of the overlap unit  100  may be omitted, so that the paper sheet  1  transferred from the printing unit  20  via the drying unit  30  is fed directly to a position between the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  of the overlap unit  100 . Alternatively, the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  of the overlap unit  100  may be omitted, so that the paper sheet  1  transferred from the printing unit  20  via the drying unit  30  is fed directly to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  of the overlap unit  100 . 
     It is nevertheless preferable that the paper sheet  1  transferred from the printing unit  20  via the drying unit  30  is fed to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182  by the overlap cylinder  110  and the outfeed wheels  121  via the transfer cylinder  101  of the overlap unit  100  as in the main embodiment, because this configuration enables the paper sheet  1  to be transferred, and to be fed to a position between the infeed rollers  181  and  182 , without causing the paper sheet  1  to be out of alignment, as described above. 
     Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the finger holders  113  of the overlap cylinder  110  of the overlap unit  100  are provided respectively with the lift-up portions  113   a  protruding outward in the radial direction of the overlap cylinder  110 . However, in another embodiment, the lift-up portions  113   a  may be omitted, in other words, general finger holders may be used instead, for example. In such a case, it is not possible to support the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1 , the transport-direction trailing end side located outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  111 , so as to provide a space between the transport-direction trailing end side of the paper sheet  1  and the peripheral surface of the cylinder body  111 , when the fingers  114  of the overlap cylinder  110  are in a closed state. Nevertheless, when the hold of the subsequent paper sheet  1  by the fingers  114  and the finger pads  115  of the overlap cylinder  110  is released, the rotation of the fingers  114  being outward in the radial direction of the cylinder body  110  can cause the transport-direction trailing end side of the preceding paper sheet  1  to be lifted up, although to a small extent, so as to be away from the overlap cylinder  110  in a direction orthogonal to a plane along the transport direction of the paper sheet  1 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Since the sheet overlap device according to the present invention is capable of applying film lamination to sheets speedily and accurately, the use of the sheet overlap device according to the present invention can be extremely beneficial to various industries including the printing industry.