The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1999
Brian Zenczak, Ellington, CT (US);
Kenneth Fisher, Vernon, CT (US);
Michael Thomas, Hartford, CT (US);
Richard Schlueter, Clinton, CT (US);
Gerber Scientific Products, Inc., Manchester, CT (US);
Abstract
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.