Web transport system

Claim 2

In a machine for producing business forms, an elongated frame, a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart converting mechanisms on said frame defining a substantially planar path therebetween, means for feeding a web to said frame for travel in said path, and pin belt means between said mechanisms for engaging a line of holes along one edge of said web for advancing the same, the improvement wherein said pin belt means comprises a pair of endless belts disposed along each longitudinal edge of said web with each pair arranged in coplanar relation perpendicular to the web plane and with adjacent runs of said pairs of belts being in contacting relation to confine said web, one of said belts of each pair being equipped with outwardly projecting pins, the other of said belts of each pair being equipped with holes sized and arranged to receive said pins, each of said belts being entrained over a plurality of pulleys with at least one of the pulleys associated with the pin-equipped belts being driven and arranged to dispose the adjacent run ends at a minor acute angle to said planer path whereby said pin-equipped belts diverge from said path at the ends of said adjacent runs, the other pulleys of said plurality of pulleys being idlers; means operatively associated with said frame and said pairs of belts for positionably moving said pairs of belts laterally whereby webs of different widths are accommodated in said machine; and plate and bracket means movably mounted on said frame for supporting said idler pulleys independently of the driven pulleys.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 in which said plate and bracket means includes a bracket pivotally mounted on a plate, said plate being mounted on said frame for lateral positioning thereon, and spring means interconnecting said plate and bracket for maintaining said bracket in one of two operational positions relative to said plate.

Claim 4

The machine of claim 1 wherein said pin belt is trained over a plurality of pulleys including one driven pulley, a first pair of run-defining pulleys for routing said pinned endless belt into frictional engagement with said web, and a second pair of pulleys located remotely from said run and causing said pinned belt to define a minor acute angle therewith, and said apertured belt is trained on a plurality of idler pulleys, a pair of which define a web-engaging run adjacent to the run of said pin belt and extending beyond either longitudinal side thereof.

Claim 5

In combination, an elongated continuous paper web having a series of equally spaced apertures along at least one marginal edge thereof; and advancing mechanism for advancement of said web in a common plane comprising first and second endless belts disposed respectively above and below said web for simultaneously frictionally engaging the same along said apertured marginal edge, one of said belts defining a plurality of projection pins for snugly fitting into said apertures of said web and the other belt defining a plurality of apertures sized and arranged to snugly receive said pins after passing through the web apertures whereby when said pins of said belt are received in the apertures of the other belt, said belts will travel together, idler pulley means for mounting one of said belts to provide a run adjacent one surface of said web, and driven pulley means for mounting the other of said belts to provide a run adjacent the other surface of said web, said belts pressing against said web over a major portion of said runs, the pulley means receiving the pin belt being arranged to define a web-engaging run which is slightly offset relative to the web-engaging run of the apertured belt whereby webs of various thicknesses may be accommodated, said pulley means receiving the pin belt being further arranged to diverge the end portions of said pin belt adjacent the web-engaging run thereof at minor acute angles whereby said pins are eased through said web apertures and said first belt apertures prior to full frictional engagement of said webs by said belts and the pin belt is eased from frictional engagement with said apertured belt prior to the end of the web-engaging run of the latter and said pins are thereafter eased out of their associated web apertures.

Claim 6

In combination, an elongated continuous paper web having a series of equally spaced apertures along at least one marginal edge thereof; and advancing mechanism for advancement of said web in a common plane comprising first and second endless belts disposed respectively above and below said web for simultaneously frictionally engaging the same along said apertured marginal edge, one of said belts defining a plurality of projection pins for snugly fitting into said apertures of said web and the other belt defining a plurality of apertures sized and arranged to snugly receive said pins after passing through the web apertures whereby when said pins of said belt are received in the apertures of the other belt, said belts will travel together, idler pulley means for mounting one of said belts to provide a run adjacent one surface of said web, and driven pulley means for mounting the other of said belts to provide a run adjacent the other surface of said web, said belts pressing against said web over a major portion of said runs, the pulley means receiving the pin belt being arranged to define a web-engaging run which is slightly offset relative to the web-engaging run of the apertured belt whereby webs of various thicknesses may be accommodated, said pulley means receiving the pin belt being further arranged to diverge the end portions of said pin belt adjacent the web-engaging run thereof at minor acute angles whereby said pins are eased through said web apertures and said first belt apertures prior to full frictional engagement of said webs by said belts and the pin belt is eased from frictional engagement with said apertured belt prior to the end of the web-engaging run of the latter and said pins are thereafter eased out of their associated web apertures.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 4, wherein said paper web is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures on each marginal edge and said machine is equipped with a second of said advancing mechanisms for advancing said web on its second set of marginal apertures.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein the pulley means receiving said pin belt includes a pulley downstream of the point of egress of said web and provided with a peripheral flange to support said web and thereby facilitate disengagement of said web from said pins.