Paper conveying system

A device for conveying sheets of non-magnetic material which comprises a pair of opposed moveable surfaces of small particle size ferrous permanent magnetic material contactable with one another, the surfaces moving at a plane of contact in the same direction, each of said surfaces comprising a plurality of magnetic fields exhibiting a plurality of sets of of continuous parallel lines of N and S polarity extending in a direction of movement of the surfaces across the widths of the surfaces at the plane of contact, the lines of polarity alternating a plurality of spaced N and S parallel poles across the surfaces transversely of the direction of movement of the surfaces at the plane of contact, and the polarity of the individual lines of polarity of one surface opposed to opposite polarity lines of polarity of another of the surfaces whereby the surfaces are magnetically attracted to one another in parallel relation along said plane of contact and will grip a sheet of non-magnetic material therebetween for movement with the surfaces.

In an envelope machine having an envelope blank feed station spaced from a blank folding station with a blank transport means therebetween, the improvement of at least part of the blank transport means comprising upper and lower endless conveyor strips of small particle size ferrous flexible permanent magnet material, the strips being vertically aligned and contactable with one another over a portion their length, means for inserting a blank between the strips with opposed lengths of the upper and lower strips contacting opposite sides of the blank for transport of the blank by movement of the strips, said strips having a plurality of sets of continuous parallel N and S magnetic poles across the widths of the strips and extending lengthwise of the strips with their N and S poles alternating in contiguous relation across the widths of the strip whereby the opposed lengths of the upper and lower strips will be magnetically attracted with opposite poles of each strip in alignment to hold the strips in aligned relation.

A paper transport assembly comprising first and second endless strip conveyors of small particle size ferrous flexible permanent magnet material, a plurality of sheaves rotatably mounted on parallel axes in spaced relation receiving said endless strip conveyors therearound, the sheaves for the first conveyor being positioned with respects to the sheaves for the second conveyor to direct outer surfaces of the first and second conveyors into opposed contactable relation for at least a portion of the distance between the spaced sheaves of each conveyor strip, said permanent magnet material strips having continuous parallel magnetic poles arranged lengthwise thereof with the poles alternating across the widths of the strips transversely of the direction of movement of the strips and with each strip having a plurality of sets of N and S poles.