Patent ID: 6164585
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B65H,G07D

Abstract:
A roll storage apparatus for sheet-like articles comprising:two opposing roll cores including a first roll core and a second roll core, the first roll core being connected to a first drive motor, the second roll core being connected to a second drive motor, the first and second drive motors being reversible,the first and second roll cores being connected by a common storage tape which is at least partially wound around each roll core with a portion of the storage tape extending between the first and second roll cores and passing through an input/output feed unit,the input/output feed unit comprising a pair of opposing endless belts forming a belt gap disposed therebetween and through which the portion of the storage tape passes, the portion of the storage tape that passes through the belt gap being disposed in a plane, the belt gap having two opposing longitudinal ends,when the input/output feed unit is in a rest position, the endless belts are disposed on lateral opposing sides of the portion of the storage tape and parallel therewith,when the input/output feed unit is in an input/output feed position, the endless belts are pivoted with respect to the plane of the portion of the storage tape and the input/output feed unit being pivoted about a pivot axis extending through one of the longitudinal ends of the belt gap and in the plane of the portion of the storage tape,the first and second drive motors and the input/output feed unit each being connected to a control device,the storage tape being subdivided into plurality adjacent logical sectors disposed longitudinally along the tape, each logical sector for accommodating an article to be stored,the control device being connected to a measuring device for measuring lengths of the storage tape passing between the roll cores, the measuring device sending a signal to the control device indicating the length of tape that has passed between the roll cores, the control device identifying the logical sector disposed in the belt gap based upon the signal received from the measuring device and the control device moving input/output feed unit between the rest position and the input/output position in response to the signal received from the measuring device.