Patent ID: 6600507
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
Apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a moving belt comprising:an endless belt disposed on and being driven in a longitudinal process direction by first and second support rollers, the belt having a hole therein; a movable edge guide system disposed proximate to the belt for tracking the position and laterally moving the belt, the movable edge guide system including, a movable edge guide in contact with one edge of the moving belt, a belt revolution sensor for detecting an indicium disposed on the moving belt, a belt edge sensor for detecting motion of the moving belt in a lateral direction with respect to the process direction, a rotary encoder device for periodically sampling and sensing the longitudinal motion and position of the belt, wherein the position of the belt for each revolution of the belt is determined; and a motor driven cam located proximate to the edge of the belt for applying a constant force to the edge of the belt to maintain the belt in a constant lateral position wherein the belt edge sensor initially measures the lateral position of the edge of the belt and stores the lateral position of the belt as a belt edge profile during a set up procedure, and for every revolution of the belt after the belt edge has been learned, the movable edge guide moves laterally in accordance with the stored belt edge profile so that movement of the edge guide mimics the belt edge shape thereby applying a constant force to the belt edge to maintain the belt in a constant lateral position, wherein the movable edge guide is rotatably mounted on a pivot point, and wherein the movable edge guide system further includes a spring connected to the movable edge guide to apply a spring force to position the movable edge guide away from contact with the edge of the belt, and wherein the motor driven cam overcomes the spring force to apply lateral force to the edge of the belt.