Positive drive mechanism for buckle folder and method
AssigneeBell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company
InventorsMichael R. Drago, John H. Vitko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positive drive mechanism for use in a sheet folding apparatus includes a motor drive, a torque-limiting device coupled to the motor drive, a drive pulley coupled to the torque-limiting device, and a plurality of idler pulleys. Each of the idler pulleys is coupled to a drive shaft which supports a fold roller. A non-slip positive drive member operatively engages portions of the drive pulley and the plurality of idler pulleys. A sheet is fed into the folder and between the fold rollers in order to fold the sheet. In the event that the sheet becomes jammed between the fold rollers, the torque-limiting device operates to release the torque transmitted from the motor drive to the drive pulley.
Claims9
A drive mechanism for use in a folder comprising:
- (a) motor drive;
- (b) a torque-limiting device coupled to said motor drive;
- (c) a drive pulley coupled to said torque-limiting device;
- (d) a plurality of idler pulleys, each of said idler pulleys coupled to a drive shaft supporting a fold roller;
- and
- (e) a non-slip positive drive member operatively engaging portions of said drive pulley and said plurality of idler pulleys.
A method for automatically folding sheets comprising:
- (a) providing sheet folder including a plurality of fold rollers;
- (b) providing a drive mechanism including a motor drive, a torque-limiting device coupled to said motor drive, a drive pulley coupled to said torque-limiting device, a plurality of idler pulleys coupled to a drive shaft supporting said fold roller, and a non-slip positive drive member operatively engaging portions of said drive pulley and said plurality of idler pulleys to positively drive said drive pulley;
- (c) feeding a sheet into said folder and causing said fold rollers to fold said sheet;
- and
- (d) using said torque-limiting device to release torque transmitted from said motor drive to said drive pulley when said sheet becomes jammed between said fold rollers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.