Sheet material transport system

摘要

A transport system or conveyor for flexible items comprises at least two successive groups of three rollers. Each group has a larger diameter roller with which two smaller driven rollers provide nips which are angled to another. The entry nip of a following group is angled with respect to the exit nip of the preceding group such that an item is conveyed through successive nips along a wavy or zig-path. At least one of the two smaller rollers of a group is adjustable to set the entry or exit angle. The system is used in apparatus including a treatment station located between two successive roller groups, the treatment itself inducing a bend in the flexible items which is allowed for by the relative angling of the nips. A particular application is to the moving of photographic papers through a drying station in photographic developing machine.