Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for supplying at least two webs to a processing station comprising: (a) a plurality of pivotable back guide plates in combination with a plurality of pivotable transport guide plates, each one of the plurality of transport guide plates cooperating with a corresponding back guide plate to define a pivotable guide channel therebetween, each guide channel capable of containing and directing a separate web; (b) a controllable drive mechanism selectively and alternatively engageable with at least two of the webs for driving the selected web within its guide channel; and (c) means for selectively and alternately engaging the selected web to the controllable drive mechanism by pivoting the selected guide channel into contact with the controllable drive mechanism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for supplying at least two webs to a processing station comprising: (a) a plurality of pivotable back guide plates in combination with a plurality of pivotable transport guide plates, each one of the plurality of transport guide plates cooperating with a corresponding back guide plate to define a pivotable guide channel therebetween, each guide channel capable of containing and directing a separate web; (b) a controllable drive mechanism selectively and alternatively engageable with at least two of the webs for driving the selected web within its guide channel; and (c) means for selectively and alternately engaging the selected web to the controllable drive mechanism by pivoting the selected guide channel into contact with the controllable drive mechanism.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for supplying a web to a processing station comprising: (a) a first pivotable back guide plate and a first pivotable transport guide plate, the back guide plate and the transport guide plate defining a first pivotable guide channel therebetween in which the web is held and directed, the transport guide plate having an aperture formed therein; (b) a fixed transport roller for driving the web, the fixed transport roller located so as to drivingly contact the web within the guide channel through the aperture in the transport guide plate when the guide channel is pivoted proximal to the transport roller; and (c) means for pivoting the first guide channel with respect to the transport roller.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for supplying a web to a processing station comprising: (a) a first pivotable back guide plate and a first pivotable transport guide plate, the back guide plate and the transport guide plate defining a first pivotable guide channel therebetween in which the web is held and directed, the transport guide plate having an aperture formed therein; (b) a fixed transport roller for driving the web, the fixed transport roller located so as to drivingly contact the web within the guide channel through the aperture in the transport guide plate when the guide channel is pivoted proximal to the transport roller; and (c) means for pivoting the first guide channel with respect to the transport roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport roller is reversible for driving the driven web in a first direction into the processing station, and in a second direction for retracting the web from the processing station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a second back guide plate and a second transport guide plate, which is define a second pivotable guide channel therebetween, the second guide channel being located on a side of the transport roller opposite the first pivotable guide channel for directing a second web to the processing station, said first and second guide channels and the interposed transport roller together forming a guide channel pair.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pivoting means of the first guide channel also pivots the second guide channel and is selectively engagable between the two guide channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of guide channel pairs are superimposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of guide channel pairs arranged adjacent to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pivoting means is constructed to allow only one guide channel to engage a transport roller at any one time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pivoting means further comprises a cam-like selection roller interposed between each guide channel pair; and, means for jointly driving the cam-like selection rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: means for resiliently coupling the back guide plates to corresponding transport guide plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the coupling further comprises means for biasing the guide channels away from the transport roller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a protuberance located between the back guide plates and the corresponding transport guide plates for blocking the guide channel for the web.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the protuberance is affixed to at least one of the guide plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pivoting means further comprises: a pivotable rocker arm for contacting the transport guide plate of a guide channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the pivotable rocker arm is forked to provide a leg for contacting each guide channel of the guide channel pair.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pivoting means further comprises a controllable pivot pin attached to the rocker for pivoting the rocker into engagement with the guide channels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: (a) a back pressure roller for contacting the web; (b) an opening formed in that guide plate distal to the transport roller for receiving a back pressure roller, the back pressure roller opening being narrower than the transport roller aperture of claim 2.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the back pressure roller further comprises means for biasing the guide channel towards the transport roller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pivoting means further comprises: a cam-like selection roller having each guide channel as a follower.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a clamping rubber fittable between the back guide plate and its corresponding transport guide plate for frictionally engaging the web when the selection roller pivots the guide channel distally from the transport roller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the clamping rubber and the back pressure roller are attached to a lever on that guide channel side opposite the transport roller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a pair of draw-in rollers located between the guide channels and the processing station for keeping the web taut.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a means for driving at least one of the draw-in rollers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: a drive coupling located in the driving means for coupling and uncoupling the drivable draw-in roller from the driving means during retraction of the web.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising means for delivering an alternative web supply to the processing station apart from the guide channels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the alternative drive means further comprises: (a) a pair of transport rollers for driving the alternative web; (b) a drive motor for driving the transport rollers; (c) a web detector for controlling the drive motor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processing station is a printing means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: (a) means for separating a processed portion of the web from an unprocessed portion of the web; (b) means for conveying the web out of the printing means before separation of the processed portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a detector located in the path of the web-like material between the processing station and the ends of the guide channels for detecting the web-like material and producing control signals for forward and return transport of the web.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises stepping motors for driving the transport rollers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of guide channel pairs are juxtaposed.