Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Seiichi Oono

Hiroshi Nakajima

Hiroki Saito

Masayuki Kawarada

A web transport apparatus that will not cause the web to break by exerting external forces in different ways on two lateral sides. The transport apparatus includes a group of pins that are studded on flat plates connected together to form a chain on either side of a web so that it is transported in multiple stages as it is retained on two lateral sides. An annular member supports the web from the inside by pins in each of the reversing sections that rotate to reverse the direction of web transport, with the piercing end of each pin facing either inward or outward. The annular member has a central shaft located at the center of the locus of rotation of the flat plates and has an outside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the locus of rotation of the web. Preferably, the annular members rotate at the same speed as the web. There further may be provided a separating section at which the web is disengaged from the pins, which section is provided in the last reversing section which rotate with the piercing ends of pins facing outward. The annular member in the last reversing section preferably has an outside diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the locus of rotation of the piercing ends of the pins.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Seiichi Oono