Patent ID: 6517200
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
A transport buffer for transporting a flexible sheet along a path of travel between an outlet of a first workstation and an inlet of a second workstation, the first workstation intermittently delivering the flexible sheet to the buffer at a first peak speed and at a first average speed in a first mode of operation and continuously delivering the flexible sheet to the buffer at a second speed in a second mode of operation, the second workstation taking up the flexible sheet from the buffer at a third speed, the buffer comprising:a) a drive roller arranged along the path of travel for engaging and moving the flexible sheet through the buffer, the drive roller being operatively connected to a motor for driving the rollers at a substantially constant drive speed; b) a first clutch having a predetermined torque limit allowing slippage of the drive roller when the constant drive speed is greater than the speed at which the flexible sheet is delivered to the buffer from the first workstation; and c) a second clutch allowing the drive roller to rotate at a speed faster than the constant drive speed to permit movement of the flexible sheet into the buffer from the first workstation at a speed greater than the constant drive speed.