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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
May. 22, 2002
Angelo DiRamio, Medford, MA (US);
Agfa Corporation, Wilmington, MA (US);
Abstract
A nip mechanism for a substrate transfer system includes: a first nip roller; a second nip roller located substantially vertically above the first nip roller; and a drive motor for driving the first nip roller and the second nip roller to feed a substrate between the first nip roller and the second nip roller when the drive motor is driven in a first direction. The second nip roller creates and maintains a nip with the first nip roller due to a force of gravity without using a spring or other mechanical device while the drive motor is driven in the first direction. The drive motor engages a one-way clutch for engaging a roller separation mechanism to raise and separate the second nip roller from the first nip roller when the drive motor is driven in a second direction. The first and second nip rollers maintain substantial vertical alignment with one another when the drive motor is driven in either direction.