Peter Anthony Austin

US Patent:

57853126, Jul 28, 1998

Filed:

Dec 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/569378

Inventors:

Libor Krupica - Methuen MA
Peter Austin - Wilmington MA
Edward L. Kelley - Tewksbury MA

Assignee:

Bayer-AGFA - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65H 500

US Classification:

271264

Abstract:

A dual buffer internal to an imaging device uses a one-way, over-running clutch system to buffer multiple sheets of media between an internal drum recorder and a processor. The one-way over-running clutch system is incorporated into a drive system of a plurality of rollers that transport the media. An input set of rollers and an output set of rollers are driven independently to allow for two sheets of media to be buffered simultaneously and at different speeds if desired. The buffer is mounted pivotally within the imaging device to allow access into the imaging device and to allow installation of a take-up cassette as an alternative to the buffer.

US Patent:

57693013, Jun 23, 1998

Filed:

Oct 23, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/736234

Inventors:

Thomas K. Hebert - Groveland MA
Mark E. Tellam - Charlestown MA
Libor Krupica - Methuen MA
Peter Austin - Wilmington MA
Edward L. Kelley - Lexington MA

Assignee:

Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65H 2000

US Classification:

226108

Abstract:

A media transport bridge is an integral media transport device within an internal drum laser imagesetter that transports media from an imaging area in the drum to an external processor or intermediate buffer. Five pairs of rollers transport the film over the drum. A first stage of the bridge includes a first pair of rollers driven independently so that the first stage is removable and replaceable with a take-up cassette if desired. A friction drive within the imagesetter is adaptable to drive either the first stage or the take-up cassette when installed. Upon removal of the first stage, an automatic adjustment of the bridge is performed to balance the pivotally mounted bridge. The media is moved into the bridge by a pair of drum rollers while the first stage is synchronized with the other four pairs of rollers in the bridge and monitored to keep a slack loop of media at the first stage rollers to eliminate perturbations in the media. A mechanical flag sensor changes state to slow and speed up the bridge rollers to maintain the slack loop.