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:
Sep. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1998
Michael J. Thomas, Hartford, CT (US);
Kenneth R. Fisher, Vernon, CT (US);
Gerber Scientific Products, Inc., Manchester, CT (US);
Abstract
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.