International Business Machines Corporation

Hans-Georg Markgraf

Klaus Schroth

Josef Moll

An alignment and transport roll made of flexible material has a curved cross section and comprises a ring like thicker outer circumferential part. The outer part of the roll 1 is deflected in an alignment direction, by a variable thickness item to be transported such as a passbook. Upon rotation of the roll or movement of the paper, the item is aligned and transported. The alignment force is generated in the same direction regardless of the direction of movement of the item. Such a roll can also be provided with a supporting structure on one side to avoid alignment in the wrong direction when the roll flips over as happens when the roll is deflected in the wrong direction. The roll and supporting structure, or roll along can be joined in a pair of rollers coacting with each other. A roll or roller pair can be used in any alignment unit. The preferable use is in a passbook printer to align the passbook for printing purposes and for reading the magnetic stripe on the passbook. The roll is versatile enough to cope with thinner and thicker material. It also can be used for aligning and transporting continuous forms. Castable plastic material, like polyurethane with a hardness of 60 Share A, may be used as the flexible material for forming the roll.

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Gaufelden-Nebringen, Germany

Hans-Georg Markgraf