Dynamically stable sheet clamping system for high speed sheet handling drums

A clamping system for high speed sheet handling drum comprising:

• a light weight clamping bar having a generally planar support web and a clamping lip extending at an acute angle from the support web;
• means for mounting said clamping bar at axially spaced intervals along the length of the drum in a manner preventing axial but allowing limited radial movement with said support web lying in a chordal plane subtending an arc of less than 180.degree. in the cylindrical periphery of the drum;
• and
• actuating means attached on said mounting means in a manner preventing radial but allowing limited axial movement, for moving said clamping bar from an extended sheet loading position in which said clamping lip is spaced from the cylindrical periphery of the drum to a retracted sheet clamping position in which said clamping lip is substantially tangent to the cylindrical periphery of the drum in response to axial movement of said actuating means.