Claims
- 1. A device for feeding a web in a forward feed direction, comprising;
- first and second moveable grip means for alternately engaging and advancing the web in said forward feed direction, wherein said first and second grip means move in opposing directions relative to one another such that as one grip means moves in the forward feed direction the other grip means moves in a direction opposite the forward feed direction, each grip means engaging the web during movement in the forward feed direction and releasing the web during movement in the direction opposing said forward feed direction;
- first and second guide means for respectively guiding the movement of said first and second grip means; and
- a reciprocating driving means for driving said first and second moveable grip means in opposing directions relative to one another along their respective guide means for advancing said web when said first and second moveable grip means alternately engage said web;
- wherein said driving means comprises a coupling member operatively connected to said first and second grip means and a means for driving said coupling member in a direction transverse to said forward feed direction to impart movement to said first and second grip means along said first and second guide means, respectively.
- 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving the coupling member comprises an electrical element.
- 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second guide means is adjustable to vary the angle between the motion of a respective one of said grip means and the forward feeding direction.
- 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second grips include guide members for guiding the web.
- 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second grips are coupled with said coupling member through sliding coupling elements.
- 6. The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second guide means are oriented such that a direction of movement of the first and second grip means along said first and second guide means is inclined with respect to the forward feed direction, wherein said first and second grip means cooperate to move the web forward and at the same time transverse to the forward feed direction.
- 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said first and second grip means comprise two grips, said first and second guide means comprise two guide rails, and said two grips each slidably engage a respective one of said two guide rails.
- 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said two guide rails are oriented at opposing angles with respect to the forward feed direction.
- 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the directions of motion of the first and second grip means are inclined to the forward feed direction.
- 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second guide means are oriented parallel with respect to the direction of the forward feed direction and said transverse movement of said coupling member is converted into parallel movement of said first and second grip means along said guide means by levers coupled between said coupling member and said first and second grip means.
- 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second grip means comprise a first and second grip and said first and second guide means comprise, respectively, a first pair of guide rails for guiding said first grip and a second pair of guide rails for guiding said second grip, wherein opposing ends of said first and second grips each slidably engage one of its respective pair of guide rails.
- 12. A method of feeding a web in a forward feed direction, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first grip slidably mounted on a first guide oriented to provide a direction of motion of said first grip along said first guide having a component which is transverse to said forward feed direction of the web;
- providing a second grip slidably mounted on a second guide oriented to provide a direction of motion of said second grip along said second guide having a component which is transverse to said forward feed direction, said direction of motion of said second grip opposing said direction of motion of said first grip;
- providing a coupling member which is operatively connected to each of said first and second grips and drivable in a first direction transverse to said forward feed direction and a second direction opposite said first direction;
- engaging the web with said first grip;
- driving said first grip along said first guide from a first position to a second position to advance said web both forwardly and transversely, said step of driving said first grip comprising moving said coupling member in said first direction transverse to said forward feed direction to impart driving force to said first grip;
- releasing the engagement between the web and said first grip;
- engaging the web with said second grip; and
- driving said second grip from a third position to a fourth position to advance said web both forwardly and transversely thereby advancing said web in a zig-zag manner, said step of driving said second grip comprising moving said coupling member in said second direction opposite to said first direction to impart driving force to said second grip.
- 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein during the step of driving said second grip from a third position to a fourth position, said method further comprises the step of returning the first grip from said second position to said first position, and during the step of driving said first grip from a first position to a second position, said method further comprises the step of returning the second grip from said fourth position to said third position, and wherein the steps of alternately driving and returning the first and second grips are repeated as necessary to advance the web a predetermined amount.
- 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the steps of providing said first and second grips further comprise providing an angle between the direction of motion of the first grip in relation to the forward feed direction that is different from the opposing angle between the axis of the direction of motion of the second grip in relation to the forward feed direction, wherein said steps of alternately driving and returning said first and second grids advances the web in a sawtoothed manner.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
03709/90 |
Nov 1990 |
CHX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/794,917 filed Nov. 20, 1991, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0321602 |
Jun 1989 |
EPX |
2158074 |
Oct 1971 |
FRX |
2237698 |
Jul 1974 |
FRX |
2534914 |
Aug 1975 |
DEX |
1045699 |
Oct 1966 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
794917 |
Nov 1991 |
|