Patent ID: 7810687

Claim:
A feeding mechanism for feeding a web, comprising: a feeding nip assembly, the feeding nip assembly comprising: a driven roller structured to be rotatably driven about a first axis; and an idler roller structured to rotate about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis; wherein the feeding nip assembly is structured to apply a force to the idler roller to push the idler roller toward the driven roller, the force being applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis, and wherein the idler roller is structured to pivot about a third axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the second axis, and the direction of the force; wherein the idler roller is provided as part of an idler roller assembly, the idler roller assembly further comprising an idler arm and a pivot element, the pivot element being operatively coupled to the idler roller, the pivot element also being operatively coupled to the idler arm in a manner that permits the pivot element to pivot about the third axis, wherein when the pivot element pivots about the third axis, the idler roller is caused to pivot about the third axis; wherein the idler arm defines a cavity, wherein the pivot element comprises a coupling portion received within the cavity, wherein the idler roller assembly comprises a pivot shaft inserted through the coupling portion of the pivot element and the idler arm along the third axis, and wherein the pivot element is structured to pivot about the pivot shaft.