Patent ID: 7789387
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A roller assembly for conveying stacked sheet material along a feed path, comprising: a first roller adapted for rotation about a first rotational axis within a structural housing, a second roller adapted for pivotal mounting about an axis within the structural housing and adapted for rotation about a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis, the second roller opposing the first roller to define a roller nip operative to frictionally engage the stacked sheet material along exposed face surfaces thereof, and a transmission assembly supported within the structural housing and operative to: (i) transfer rotational motion of the first roller to the second roller, (ii) drive the first and second rollers in opposing directions to convey the stacked sheet material along the feed path, and (iii) facilitate pivot motion of the second roller about the pivot axis to vary the spacing of the roller nip for accommodating stacked sheet material of variable thickness, the transmission assembly further including: a first input gear for driving the first roller in a first direction, a second input gear for driving the second roller in a second direction opposite the first direction, a torque transmitting gear receiving rotational input from the first input gear, and driving the second input gear, the torque transmitting gear having an axis of rotation coincident with the pivot axis of the second roller, and a belt drive assembly for transferring rotational input from the torque transmitting gear to the second input gear and facilitating pivot motion of the second roller about the pivot axis.