Sheet drive system having an encoder apparatus

• US 4,979,730 A
• Filed: 11/14/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Holbrook, Russell W., St. John, Robert A., O'Dea, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/435,911
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 271/265, 271/270, 271/272-274, 271/176, 271/314, 271/202, 271/2
• US Class Current: 271/265.02
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 7/02 by feelers or detectors

Abstract

An envelope drive assembly for assuming displacement control over an envelope along a deck supported on a support assembly including a drive means for receiving the envelope traversing the deck and assuming displacement control over the envelope. The drive means has a shaft having a drive roller fixably mounted centrally around a portion of the shaft such that a radial portion of the drive roller extent into an opening in the deck. A motor drive is provided for rotating the shaft. A support member having at least one biasing roller rotatively mounted thereto is positioned radially opposite the drive roller. The support member is pivotally mounted and biased such that the biasing roller is biased against the drive roller. A processor controls the drive motor. A sensor is provided for sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edge of the envelope in the nip area of the biasing roller and drive roller and informing the processor thereof. An encoder wheel is rotatively mounted to the shaft for informing the processor of the change in displacement of the envelope in the drive means.

Claims

1. A sheet drive assembly for assuming displacement control over a sheet material traversing along a deck supported by a support structure, comprising:

a drive means for receiving said sheet material and assuming control over said sheet material there through, said drive means having a shaft having at least one drive roller fixably mounted centrally around a portion of said shaft such that a radial portion of said drive roller extent into said opening in said deck, motor drive means for rotatively driving said shaft, a force against support means having at least one biasing roller rotatively mounted thereto for supporting said biasing roller radially opposite said drive roller, and means for biasing said support means such that said biasing roller is biased against said drive roller, said support means being pivotally mounted to said support structure such that said biasing roller may be displace in a arched manner by the presence of said sheet material between said drive roller and said biasing roller;

a processor means for controlling said drive means;

a sensor means for sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edge of said sheet material when received between said biasing roller and said drive roller and informing said processor thereof; and

,

an encoder means for informing said processor of the change in displacement of said sheet material in said drive means;

said encoder means an encoder wheel rotatively mounted centrally around a portion of said shaft such that a radial portion of said encoder wheel extends into said opening in said deck, said encoder wheel having an actuation ring fixably mounted to one side face of said encoder wheel, sensing means fixably mounted to said support structure and aligned opposite said encoding means for sensing the radial displacement of said actuation ring, an encoder biasing wheel rotatively mounted to said support means radially opposite said encoder wheel such that said encoder wheel is caused to rotate at a speed directly related to the speed at which said sheet material passes there between.

2. An envelope drive assembly for assuming displacement control over an envelope transported along a deck supported by a support structure, comprising:

a drive means for receiving an envelope traversing said deck and assuming control over said envelope, said drive means having a shaft, at least one drive roller fixably mounted centrally around a portion of said shaft such that a radial portion of said drive roller extent into an opening in said deck and motor drive means for rotatively driving said shaft,

a support means having at least one biasing roller rotatively mounted to said support means for supporting said biasing roller radially opposite said drive roller and means for biasing said support means such that said biasing roller is biased against said drive roller, said support means being pivotally mounted to said support structure such that said biasing roller may be displace in an arched manner by said envelope located between said drive roller and said biasing roller;

a processor means for controlling said drive means;

a sensor means for sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edge of said envelope when received between said drive roller and said biasing roller and informing said processor thereof; and

,

an encoder means for informing said processor of the change in displacement of said envelope in said drive means, said encoder means having an encoder wheel rotatively mounted centrally around a portion of said shaft such that a radial portion of said encoder wheel extends into the opening in said deck, said encoder wheel having an actuation ring fixably mounted to one side face of said encoder wheel, sensing means fixably mounted to said base and aligned axially said encoding means for sensing the radial displacement of said actuation ring, and an encoder biasing wheel rotatively mounted to said support means radially opposite said encoder wheel such that said encoder wheel is caused to rotate at a speed directly related to the speed at which said envelope passes said encoder wheel and said encoder biasing wheel.

3. An envelope drive assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuation ring is comprised of a plurality of magnetic element of alternating polarity.

4. An envelope drive assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of magnetically responsive sensors.