Automatic doffing system.

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for transferring an article (20) from one conveyor (30) to another (40) and a printing system incorporating the same. The apparatus includes an array of endless conveyorized strips (11) carried by a roller (12) and a relatively rigid member (13), the roller and the member being positioned within the strips, and moving means (14) operatively associated with the roller for effecting its rotation and hence movement of the strips (11). The apparatus is positioned between and in cooperation with adjacent ends (31,41) of successive conveyors (30,40) of a printing system. The surface (15) of each strip is charactarized by a series of upwardly extending projections (16), each projection being of relatively small diametar in relation to its length. The roller (12) is adjacent to the exit end (17) of the apparatus and has disks (18) positioned longitudinally between the strips (11) and coaxially with and about the roller (12) at intervals across its width. The disks diameters are sufficiently greater than that of the roller as to extend above the projections (16), lifting the article (20) from the projections as it passes over the roller (12) and carrying it to the other conveyor (40). <IMAGE>