Joseph P Conlan

US Patent:

59381876, Aug 17, 1999

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/844668

Inventors:

Joseph J. Conlan - Rocky Hill CT
James M. Diener - Niantic CT
Alan W. Menard - Bolton CT
John R. Masotta - Bethany CT
Richard S. Lech - Manchester CT
Michael T. Silva - Enfield CT
Bruce L. Davidson - East Hartford CT

Assignee:

Gerber Systems Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

B65H 522

US Classification:

271 314

Abstract:

An apparatus for feeding media to an internal drum imaging system includes a pair of parallel rails secured to a support frame that is mechanically isolated from the imaging system. The tracks are parallel to the outer circumferential edges of the internal drum. The feeding apparatus further includes a plurality of media engagement means movably coupled between the tracks. The engagement means are adapted to transport the medium to and from the internal drum along the tracks. Each engagement means includes a rail extending between the tracks and a pair of drive means pivotally connected to the ends of the rail for advancing the rail along the tracks. Each engagement means further includes a lifting means for raising and lowering the rail and a coupling means disposed to the undersurface of the rail for securing the media to the rail. The feeding apparatus further includes a controller which provides signals to the engagement means to couple the media to the rails and advance the engagement means along the tracks and accurately position the medium onto the drum, in response to an algorithm and feedback from a pair of docking sensor. The docking sensor are disposed on the leading edge of internal drum for contacting the leading edge of the medium and providing a signal to the controller representative of the position of the medium on the internal drum.