Patent ID: 6059284
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for registering and deskewing a sheet along a sheet path, comprising:an omni-directional in the plane of the sheet drive mechanism, to simultaneously move a sheet transversely to the sheet path and along the sheet path;a plurality of sensors located along the sheet path, operatively associated with said drive mechanism, to detect the lateral position of a sheet along the sheet path and generate a signal indicative thereof, wherein said omni-directional drive mechanism comprises a first sphere located in the sheet path, a first back up member, in circumferential contact with said sphere to form a nip therewith, a second sphere located in the sheet path, a second back up member, in circumferential contact with said sphere to form a nip therewith, a plurality of paired drive members, each pair of drive members in contact with each said first and second spheres to drive the spheres in an omni-directional manner in the plane of the sheet with respect to the sheet path in response to the signal generated by said sensors, wherein at least one of said paired drive members are continuously biased against each of said first and second spheres so that said drive mechanism is self-compensating for wear;a transport sensor located in the sheet path to detect the presence of a sheet moving along the sheet path and to generate a signal indicative thereof.