Device for advancing a web of flexible strip material

Claim 2

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor form a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: a pair of rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; and a continuous flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having (1) a first inner surface in direct contact with said rollers, (2) an outer surface and (3) a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge of said outer surface to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt.

Claim 3

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor form a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: a pair of rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; and a continuous flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having (1) a first inner surface in direct contact with said rollers, (2) an outer surface and (3) a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge of said outer surface to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt.

Claim 4

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor form a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: a pair of rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; and a continuous flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having (1) a first inner surface in direct contact with said rollers, (2) an outer surface and (3) a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge of said outer surface to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt.

Claim 5

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material as defined by claim 1 wherein said shoulders project a distance such that the depth of said channel defined thereby is at least as great as the thickness of said web whereby said shoulders are effective to protect the exposed surface of the web from contact with other parts of the mechanism when the web is positioned in the channel.

Claim 6

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material as defined in claim 1 wherein: said transducer station includes a light source; and said belt is formed of transparent material, whereby light from said source can be transmitted substantially unretarded through said belt and web.

Claim 7

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor from a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a contiNuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge thereof to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt; a third roller engaged by and driven by said belt as said belt passes over said first roller; and a take-up device including a roll engaged by and driven by said belt as said belt passes over said second roller.

Claim 8

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor from a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a contiNuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge thereof to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt; a third roller engaged by and driven by said belt as said belt passes over said first roller; and a take-up device including a roll engaged by and driven by said belt as said belt passes over said second roller.

Claim 9

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material as defined by Claim 1 further comprising: means for intermittently driving said one roller to intermittently move said belt; and means positioned between the supply and the point at which the web is first engaged by said belt for maintaining substantially constant tension in said web as it is moved intermittently.

Claim 10

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor from a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge thereof to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt; a servo control for controlling operation of the motor; means for operating said servo control in a first mode to rotate said one roller a first amount effective to advance said web a distance approximately corresponding to a desired predetermined spacing; and means for operating said servo control in a second mode to rotate said one roller a second, relatively small amount effective to attain a vernier adjustment of the position of said web such that the total advancement of said web closely corresponds to the desired predetermined spacing.

Claim 11

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material by a motor from a supply of such material, through a transducer station to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt having a continuous projecting shoulder along each edge thereof to define a web receiving channel in said belt, the width of said channel between said shoulders being substantially equal to the width of the web, whereby the web when positioned in the channel is held snugly therein and moved with said belt; a servo control for controlling operation of the motor; means for operating said servo control in a first mode to rotate said one roller a first amount effective to advance said web a distance approximately corresponding to a desired predetermined spacing; and means for operating said servo control in a second mode to rotate said one roller a second, relatively small amount effective to attain a vernier adjustment of the position of said web such that the total advancement of said web closely corresponds to the desired predetermined spacing.

Claim 12

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material as defined by Claim 6 wherein said servo comprises: means for transmitting control signals at a predetermined rate corresponding to a desired rate of intermittent web movement; first means responsive to said signals for activating the motor in said first mode; second means responsive to said signals for activating the motor in said second mode; and means for delaying the transmission of said signals to said second activating means until operation in said first mode is completed.

Claim 13

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material having transparent areas from a supply of such material, through an optical transducer station including a light source to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt being formed of transparent material and adapted to carry the web past the optical transducer station whereby light from said source can be transmitted substantially unretarded through said belt and web; a third roller engaged by and driven by said belt as it passes over said first roller; and a take-up device including a roll engaged by a driven by said belt as said belt passes over said second roller.

Claim 14

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material having transparent areas from a supply of such material, through an optical transducer station including a light source to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and second rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt being formed of transparent material and adapted to carry the web past the optical transducer station whereby light from said source can be transmitted substantially unretarded through said belt and web; a third roller engaged by and driven by said belt as it passes over said first roller; and a take-up device including a roll engaged by a driven by said belt as said belt passes over said second roller.

Claim 15

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material as defined by claim 8 further comprising means positioned between the supply and the point at which the web is first engaged by said belt for maintaining substantially constant tension in said web as it is moved intermittently.

Claim 16

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material having transparent areas from a supply of such material, through an optical transducer station including a light source to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and sEcond rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt being formed of transparent material and adapted to carry the web past the optical transducer station whereby light from said source can be transmitted substantially unretarded through said belt and web; a servo control for controlling operation of the motor; means for operating said servo control in a first mode to rotate said one roller a first amount effective to advance said web a distance approximately corresponding to a desired predetermined spacing and means for operating said servo control in a second mode to rotate said one roller a second relatively small amount effective to attain a vernier adjustment of the position of said web such that the total advancement of said web closely corresponds to the desired predetermined spacing.

Claim 17

A mechanism for advancing a web of strip material having transparent areas from a supply of such material, through an optical transducer station including a light source to a take-up device, said mechanism comprising: first and sEcond rollers at least one of which is driven by the motor; a continuous, flexible belt trained about said rollers, said belt being formed of transparent material and adapted to carry the web past the optical transducer station whereby light from said source can be transmitted substantially unretarded through said belt and web; a servo control for controlling operation of the motor; means for operating said servo control in a first mode to rotate said one roller a first amount effective to advance said web a distance approximately corresponding to a desired predetermined spacing and means for operating said servo control in a second mode to rotate said one roller a second relatively small amount effective to attain a vernier adjustment of the position of said web such that the total advancement of said web closely corresponds to the desired predetermined spacing.