Patent ID: 8038149
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for registering sheet material while being conveyed along a feed path, comprising: a conveyance deck for conveying sheet material along a support surface; a registration member disposed adjacent the deck and defining an abutment surface operative to align an edge of the sheet material as the sheet material is conveyed along the support surface of the conveyance deck; and a conveyance drive mechanism disposed adjacent to the registration member and along the conveyance deck, the drive mechanism including: at least two rolling elements, a continuous flexible belt disposed about and supported by the rolling elements, a section of the belt extending along the feed path and being twisted about an elongate axis of the flexible belt, the twisted belt section, defining a plurality of spiral edge segments; a means for driving the flexible belt about the rolling elements, wherein the spiral edge segments frictionally engage a surface of the sheet material to urge the sheet material against the abutment surface and convey the sheet material along the support surface of the conveyance deck; and an idler roller opposing each of the spiral edge segments of the twisted belt section, each idler roller rotationally mounting below the support surface and having a peripheral surface portion extending through an aperture of the conveyance deck, the idler rollers operative to reduce frictional wear along each of the spiral edge segments and facilitate transport of the sheet material along the feed path.