Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.

Michael J Thomas

Kenneth R Fisher

Joseph W Stempien

Brian Zenczak

Richard Schlueter

In an apparatus and method for plotting on sheets of different widths, such as by cutting and/or printing, a tool support holding a plotting tool, such as a pen or knife blade, is spaced apart from a laterally-extending sheet-supporting surface and movable in the y-coordinate direction over the sheet-supporting surface for plotting on the sheet. A first drive roller defining an abrasive surface is rotatably mounted adjacent to the sheet-supporting surface for engaging a first marginal portion of the sheet and driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction. A second rotatably-mounted drive roller is spaced laterally relative to the first drive roller, and defines an abrasive surface for engaging a second marginal portion of the sheet and further driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction. A first drive motor is drivingly connected to the first drive roller for rotatably driving the first drive roller, and a second drive motor is drivingly connected to the second drive roller for rotatably driving the second drive roller. Both the second drive motor and second drive roller are laterally movable along an elongated track relative to the first drive roller, to thereby define any width between the first and second drive rollers within a predetermined range of widths.

Friction-feed plotter with laterally-movable drive roller, and related method for plotting on sheets of different widths

An apparatus for performing a work operation on sheet material includes a plurality of drive wheels for driving the sheet material in cooperation with a plurality of pinch rollers along a feed path. Each of the drive wheels includes a drive surface having a plurality of primary teeth and a plurality of secondary teeth. Each primary tooth includes a top surface and a plurality of primary contact points to engage the sheet material. Each secondary tooth includes either a secondary contact line or a secondary contact point that come into contact with the sheet material to provide additional driving force and to prevent the sheet material from being perforated by the primary teeth. The primary teeth and the secondary teeth of the drive wheels engage the sheet material to advance the sheet material along the feed path. The drive surface of the drive wheels of the present invention minimizes slippage of the sheet material in the drive apparatus without damaging the sheet material.

Drive wheels for an apparatus performing a work operation on strip material

In a sprocket-driven plotter, a pair of drive sprockets are spaced apart from each other and keyed to a common sprocket shaft, and a drive motor is drivingly connected to the shaft to rotatably drive the sprockets, and in turn move the sheets engaged by the sprockets relative to a tool carriage for plotting by drawing lines, cutting or performing a variety of other operations on the sheets. A sheet support defines an arcuate support surface fixedly secured to the apparatus, and extending in its elongated direction between the sprockets for conformably contacting the laterally-extending section of each sheet engaged by the sprockets. The arcuate support surface defines a plurality of relatively raised or outermost surface areas, and each raised surface area is defined by an arcuate surface segment extending in the axial direction of the support for contacting and supporting the sheets. Corresponding recessed surface areas are formed between the raised surface areas for reducing friction between the sheets and support.

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Hartford, CT, United States of America

Michael J Thomas