U.S. patent application number 15/487654 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-05 for document feeder, image reading device, and image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Miho MORITA, Akira YAMAZAKI.
Application Number | 20180097961 15/487654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61757884 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180097961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MORITA; Miho ; et
al. |
April 5, 2018 |
DOCUMENT FEEDER, IMAGE READING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING
APPARATUS
Abstract
A document feeder includes a document loading unit loaded with a
document thereon and supported to be movable between (i) a loading
position where the document can be loaded and (ii) an opened
position where a space at a lower side of the document loading unit
in a direction of gravity is opened, a separation unit including a
feed roller and a separation roller being in pressure contact with
the feed roller, the separation unit that separates the document
fed from the document loading unit by a nip between the feed roller
and the separation roller, and a guide member that guides the
document fed from the document loading unit to the nip of the
separation unit. When the document loading unit moves to the opened
position, the separation roller and the guide member move to be
spaced apart from each other.
Inventors: |
MORITA; Miho; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; YAMAZAKI; Akira; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUJI XEROX CO., LTD. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
61757884 |
Appl. No.: |
15/487654 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00615 20130101;
H04N 1/00602 20130101; H04N 1/00628 20130101; H04N 2201/0081
20130101; H04N 2201/0063 20130101; H04N 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/04 20060101
H04N001/04; H04N 1/00 20060101 H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 30, 2016 |
JP |
2016-192410 |
Claims
1. A document feeder comprising: a document loading unit configured
to be loaded a document thereon and supported to be movable between
(i) a loading position where the document can be loaded and (ii) an
opened position where a space at a lower side of the document
loading unit in a direction of gravity is opened; a separation unit
including a feed roller and a separation roller, the separation
roller being in pressure contact with the feed roller, wherein the
separation unit is configured to separate the document fed from the
document loading unit by a nip formed between the feed roller and
the separation roller; and a guide member configured to guide the
document fed from the document loading unit to the nip of the
separation unit, wherein when the document loading unit moves to
the opened position, the separation roller and the guide member
move to be spaced apart from each other, and wherein, in the
loading position, the guide member is arranged between the feed
roller and the separation roller.
2. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the document
loading unit includes a projection portion disposed at one end side
thereof to protrude toward the separation unit, the separation
roller is rotatably supported on a retaining member that retains
the separation roller to be movable between a separation position
where the nip is formed and a retraction position where the nip is
released, and when the document loading unit moves to the opened
position, the guide member moves toward an upstream side in a
document feeding direction, and the nip is released as the
projection portion comes into contact with an arm portion provided
on the retaining member to protrude, so that the separation roller
moves toward a downstream side in the document feeding
direction.
3. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the guide
member is a film-shaped Mylar having one end fixed to the document
loading unit, and the other end protruding to cover the separation
roller at an upstream side of the nip in a document feeding
direction.
4. The document feeder according to claim 2, wherein the guide
member is a film-shaped Mylar having one end fixed to the document
loading unit, and the other end protruding to cover the separation
roller at an upstream side of the nip in the document feeding
direction.
5. An image reading device comprising: an image capturing member
configured to read an image of a document; and the document feeder
according to claim 1 further configured to feed the document to a
reading position where the image capturing member is configured to
read the document.
6. An image reading device comprising: an image capturing member
configured to read an image of a document; and the document feeder
according to claim 2 further configured to feed the document to a
reading position where the image capturing member is configured to
read the document.
7. An image reading device comprising: an image capturing member
configured to read an image of a document; and the document feeder
according to claim 3 further configured to feed the document to a
reading position where the image capturing member is configured to
read the document.
8. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading device
according to claim 5 further configured to read an image of a
document; and an image recording device configured to record the
image read by the image reading device on a recording medium.
9. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading device
according to claim 6 further configured to read an image of a
document; and an image recording device configured to record the
image read by the image reading device on a recording medium.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading device
according to claim 7 further configured to read an image of a
document; and an image recording device configured to record the
image read by the image reading device on a recording medium.
11. The document feeder according to claim 1, wherein a projection
of the document loading unit is configured to abut a projection of
the separation unit such that as the document loading unit moves
from the loading position to the opened position, the pressure
contact between the feed roller and the separation roller is
removed and the guide member is removed from between the feed
roller and the separation roller without contacting either of the
feed roller and the separation roller.
12. A document feeder comprising: a document loading unit is
configured to be loaded with a document thereon and supported to be
movable between (i) a loading position where the document can be
loaded and (ii) an opened position where a space at a lower side of
the document loading unit in a direction of gravity is opened; a
separation unit including a feed roller and a separation roller,
the separation roller being in pressure contact with the feed
roller, wherein the separation unit is configured to separate the
document fed from the document loading unit by a nip formed between
the feed roller and the separation roller; and a guide member
configured to guide the document fed from the document loading unit
to the nip of the separation unit, wherein when the document
loading unit moves to the opened position, the separation roller
and the guide member move to be spaced apart from each other,
wherein the document loading unit includes a projection portion
disposed at one end side thereof to protrude toward the separation
unit, wherein the separation roller is rotatably supported on a
retaining member that retains the separation roller to be movable
between a separation position where the nip is formed and a
retraction position where the nip is released, and wherein when the
document loading unit moves to the opened position, the guide
member moves toward an upstream side in a document feeding
direction, and the nip is released as the projection portion comes
into contact with an arm portion provided on the retaining member
to protrude, so that the separation roller moves toward a
downstream side in the document feeding direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-192410 filed Sep.
30, 2016.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a document feeder, an image
reading device, and an image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect of the invention, a document feeder
includes [0004] a document loading unit loaded with a document
thereon and supported to be movable between (i) a loading position
where the document can be loaded and (ii) an opened position where
a space at a lower side of the document loading unit in a direction
of gravity is opened, [0005] a separation unit including a feed
roller and a separation roller being in pressure contact with the
feed roller, the separation unit that separates the document fed
from the document loading unit by a nip between the feed roller and
the separation roller, and [0006] a guide member that guides the
document fed from the document loading unit to the nip of the
separation unit. When the document loading unit moves to the opened
position, the separation roller and the guide member move to be
spaced apart from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view illustrating an
internal configuration of an image forming apparatus;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration view illustrating
an internal configuration of a reading unit;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration view illustrating
an internal configuration of the reading unit in which a document
loading unit is retained at an opened position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating
configurations of the document loading unit and a separation
unit;
[0012] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a tray body of the document
loading unit;
[0013] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a retard holder; and
[0014] FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional schematic views
explaining movements of a Mylar film and a retard roller associated
with a rotational operation of the tray body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Next, the present invention will be described in more
detail, by exemplifying the following exemplary embodiments and
specific examples, with reference to the drawings, but the present
invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments and
specific examples.
[0016] In the following description made with reference to the
drawings, it shall be noted that the drawings are schematic, and
dimensions and ratios are different from actual dimensions and
ratios, and illustrations of members, except for members required
for the description, are properly omitted for easy
understanding.
[0017] (1) Entire Configuration and Operation of Image Forming
Apparatus
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view illustrating an
internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to
the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
configuration view illustrating an internal configuration of a
reading unit 2.
[0019] Hereinafter, the entire configuration and operation of the
image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0020] (1.1) Entire Configuration
[0021] The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to include a
reading unit 2 as a reading part that reads an image from a
document and converts the image into image data, an image forming
unit 3 as a printing part that prints the read image data on a
sheet as a recording medium, an operation information unit 4 as a
user interface, and an image processing unit 5.
[0022] The reading unit 2 is configured to include a document
loading unit 21, an automatic document feeding unit 22, and an
image reading unit 23. The automatic document feeding unit 22
transports a document G placed on the document loading unit 21 to a
reading position of the image reading unit 23. An image read by an
image sensor (not illustrated) such as a charge coupled device
(CCD) line sensor in the image reading unit 23 is converted into
image data which is an electrical signal.
[0023] The image forming unit 3 is configured to include a sheet
feeding device 32, exposure devices 33, photoconductor units 34,
developing devices 35, a transfer device 36, and a fixing device
37, and forms a toner image, based on image information received
from the image processing unit 5, on a sheet P fed from the sheet
feeding device 32.
[0024] As a user interface, the operation information unit 4 is
disposed at the front surface side of the reading unit 2. The
operation information unit 4 is configured by combining a liquid
crystal display panel, various operation buttons, and a touch
panel, and a user of the image forming apparatus 1 inputs various
types of setting or instructions through the operation information
unit 4. In addition, various types of information are displayed to
the user of the image forming apparatus 1 through the liquid
crystal display panel.
[0025] The image processing unit 5 creates image data based on the
image read by the reading unit 2 and printing information
transmitted from an external device (e.g., a personal
computer).
[0026] (1.2) Reading Unit
[0027] The reading unit 2 includes the document loading unit 21,
the automatic document feeding unit 22, and the image reading unit
23. Further, the document loading unit 21 and the automatic
document feeding unit 22 are connected to be openable upwardly of
the image reading unit 23.
[0028] The document loading unit 21 includes a lift plate 212 on
which the document G with a recorded image is placed. The lift
plate 212 is movable upward and downward in accordance with the
number of sheets of document G to be loaded thereon, and retains
the document G at a position where the lift plate 212 has moved
upward so that the upper surface of the document G comes into
contact with a nudger roller 221.
[0029] The automatic document feeding unit 22 includes the nudger
roller 221 that extracts the document G loaded on the lift plate
212 sequentially from the top, and a separation unit 224 including
a feed roller 222 as a feed roller and a retard roller 223 as a
separation roller that is in pressure contact with the feed roller
222.
[0030] In the separation unit 224, the feed roller 222 and the
retard roller 223 are arranged in a pair. When the documents G are
fed to a nip portion N in a state in which the documents G overlap
each other, the separation unit 224 separates (divides) the
documents G, and transports the documents G one by one to the image
reading unit 23.
[0031] In a transport path S, transport rollers 225 are disposed at
a position at the downstream side of the feed roller 222 in a
transport direction of the document G. The rotation of the
transport rollers 225 is controlled by a clutch (not illustrated),
and the transport rollers 225 form a loop by temporarily stopping
the document G fed from the feed roller 222, and transports the
document G to pre-registration rollers 226 while correcting a
skew.
[0032] Registration rollers 227, which adjust a feed timing of the
document G, are disposed at the downstream side of the
pre-registration rollers 226. The pre-registration rollers 226
correct a skew by forming a loop in a state in which a leading end
of the document G is abutted to the registration rollers 227 in a
stopped state. The registration rollers 227 are driven in
accordance with the timing of starting the reading, and the front
side of the document G is read by the image reading unit 23 by
being pressed against a document passing surface PG1 by a platen
roller 228 in a state in which the loop is maintained by the
transport rollers 225 and the pre-registration rollers 226.
[0033] A document placement surface PG2, on which the document G
placed by an operator is supported, is disposed at the right side
of the document passing surface PG1. A document guide PG3 is
disposed between the document passing surface PG1 and the document
placement surface PG2, and the document G passing through the
document passing surface PG1 is transported to a reading sensor 232
by being guided by the document guide PG3. The document G, of which
the front side has been read by the image reading unit 23, is
ejected, by ejection rollers 229, to a sheet ejection unit 217
formed at a lower side of the document loading unit 21 while the
back side of the document G is read by the reading sensor 232.
[0034] An image reading sensor 231, which optically reads an image
of the document G and converts the image into an electrical signal,
is provided at a lower side of the document placement surface PG22,
and reads an image of the document G which passes over the document
passing surface PG1 or an image of the document G provided on the
document placement surface PG2. The read image is converted into
image data which is an electrical signal.
[0035] (1.3) Image Forming Unit
[0036] In the image forming unit 3, a designated sheet P is
transported to the image forming unit 3 from the sheet feeding
device 32 per each page of printing in a printing job in accordance
with an image forming timing.
[0037] The photoconductor units 34 are provided in parallel above
(in the Z direction) the sheet feeding device 32, and each of the
photoconductor units 34 includes a rotationally driven
photoconductor drum 341. Toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M),
cyan (C), and black (K) are formed, by the respective developing
devices 35, on the respective photoconductor drums 341 on which
electrostatic latent images have been formed by the exposure
devices 33.
[0038] The toner images of the respective colors formed on the
photoconductor drums 341 of the respective photoconductor units 34
are sequentially transferred in an electrostatic manner (primary
transfer) on an intermediate transfer belt 361 of the transfer
device 36, such that superimposed toner images, on which the toners
of the respective colors are superimposed, are formed. The
superimposed toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 361 are
transferred in a lump by secondary transfer rollers 362 to the
sheet P transported from a pair of registration rollers 321 and
guided by a transport guide.
[0039] The fixing device 37 has a fixing nip FN (fixing region)
formed by a pressure contact region between a heating module 371
and a pressure module 372 which are arranged in a pair.
[0040] The sheet P to which the toner images have been transferred
in a lump in the transfer device 36 is transported to the fixing
nip FN of the fixing device 37 through a transport guide 363 in a
state in which the toner images are unfixed, and the toner images
are fixed by pressing and heating operations by the heating module
371 and the pressure module 372 which are arranged in a pair.
[0041] The sheet P on which the fixed toner images have been formed
is guided to a switching gate G1, and ejected and accommodated in
an ejection tray unit TR1 on the upper surface of the image forming
apparatus 1 from a pair of first ejection rollers 373. In addition,
in a case in which the sheet P is reversed for duplex printing, or
ejected in a state in which an image recorded surface is directed
upward, the transport direction is changed toward a transport path
375 by the switching gate G1.
[0042] (2) Configurations and Operations of Document Loading Unit
and Separation Unit
[0043] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration view illustrating
an internal configuration of the reading unit 2 in which the
document loading unit 21 is retained in an opened position. FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating configurations
of the document loading unit 21 and the separation unit 224. FIG.
5A is a perspective view of a tray body 211 of the document loading
unit 21. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a retard holder 240.
FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional schematic views explaining
movements of a Mylar film 214 and the retard roller 223 associated
with a rotational operation of the tray body 211. Hereinafter,
configurations and operations of the document loading unit 21 and
the separation unit 224 will be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0044] (2.1) Entire Configurations of Document Loading Unit and
Separation Unit
[0045] The automatic document feeding unit 22 has the separation
unit 224 that separates the documents G, which is fed from the
document loading unit 21 by the nudger roller 221, one by one, and
that feeds the document G to the image reading unit 23.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the document loading unit 21,
the lift plate 212 is supported on the tray body 211 so as to be
movable upward and downward, and a document end alignment portion
213 is formed at a document feeding side. The document end
alignment portion 213 is formed in the vicinity of the retard
roller 223, and the nudger roller 221 is disposed in the vicinity
of the feed roller 222 at an upper side of the document end
alignment portion 213.
[0047] As an example of a guide member that guides the document G
sent by the nudger roller 221 to the separation unit 224, the Mylar
film 214 is fixed to the document end alignment portion 213 of the
document loading unit 21 so as to cover the retard roller 223 at
the tip end side thereof.
[0048] As such, since the nudger roller 221 is disposed in the
vicinity of the separation unit 224 to feed the document G, the
size of the reading unit 2 is reduced, and the reading process is
increased in speed.
[0049] (2.2) Document Loading Unit
[0050] The document loading unit 21 includes the tray body 211, and
the lift plate 212 rotatably supported on the tray body 211, and
the document G is loaded on the upper surface 212a of the lift
plate 212.
[0051] The document end alignment portion 213 in the shape of a
standing wall standing upward (in the Z direction) from the left
end of the tray body 211 is formed at the left end portion (in a -X
direction) of the tray body 211, and the leading ends of the
documents G loaded on the upper surface 212a of the lift plate 212
are aligned as one end side of the documents G (the leading end
side in the document feeding direction) comes into contact with the
document end alignment portion 213.
[0052] At the both front and rear (in the Y direction) end portions
of the tray body 211, a front wall 213A and a rear wall 213B are
formed in the shape of a standing wall standing upward from the
left end portion of the tray body 211. Support holes 213Aa and
213Ba are formed in the front wall 213A and the rear wall 213B,
respectively, so that the tray body 211 is rotatably supported to
be movable between a loading position (illustrated in FIG. 2) where
documents G may be loaded on the tray body 211, and an opened
position (illustrated in FIG. 3) where a space at the lower side of
the tray body 211 in the direction of gravity is opened so that the
documents in the sheet ejection unit 217 is extracted.
[0053] As an example of a guide member, the Mylar film 214 having a
width for covering the retard roller 223 is bonded and fixed, at
one end thereof, to a central portion of an inner surface 213a of
the document end alignment portion 213.
[0054] The other end side (leading end side) of the Mylar film 214
is a free end bent with respect to the document end alignment
portion 213, and is disposed to cover the retard roller 223 at the
upstream side of the nip portion N of the separation unit 224 in a
document feeding direction in a state in which the tray body 211 is
positioned at a loading position. As a result, the Mylar film 214
reliably guides a thin paper document fed by the nudger roller 221
to the nip portion N, and prevents the damage of the leading ends
of the documents G.
[0055] A projection portion 215 is provided on an outer surface
213b of the document end alignment portion 213 to protrude toward
the separation unit 224. The projection portion 215 comes into
contact with an arm portion 241 formed to protrude at one end of
the retard holder 240 to be described below so as to release the
nip of the retard roller 223 along with the rotational movement of
the tray body 211.
[0056] (2.3) Separation Unit
[0057] At the downstream side of the document loading unit 21 in
the document feeding direction, the separation unit 224 includes
the feed roller 222 and the retard roller 223 which comes into
pressure contact with the feed roller 222 so as to form the nip
portion N. The feed roller 222 rotates in the same direction as the
nudger roller 221, and transports the document G fed from the
nudger roller 221 to a further downstream side in the transport
direction.
[0058] Power is transmitted to the retard roller 223 through a
torque limiter (not illustrated) so that the retard roller 223 is
rotated in the reverse direction to the document transport
direction. As the feed roller 222, which is in pressure contact
with the retard roller 223, rotates in the document transport
direction, a torque is applied to the retard roller 223 in the
document transport direction. The set torque of the torque limiter
is set to a value smaller than the torque applied from the feed
roller 222 by the retard roller 223, and as a result, the retard
roller 223 is driven to rotate by receiving the rotation of the
feed roller 222 in the document transport direction.
[0059] In a case in which two or more sheets of documents are sent
to the nip portion N of the separation unit 224 (in a case of
multi-feed), the retard roller 223, to which power is transmitted
by the operation of the torque limiter in the reverse direction to
the document transport direction, rotates in the reverse direction
to the document transport direction because a coefficient of
friction between the documents is smaller than that among the feed
roller 222, the retard roller 223, and the document G. As a result,
except for the uppermost document, the documents G return back in
the direction toward the document loading unit 21, and the
documents G are divided to be separated.
[0060] The retard roller 223 is rotatably supported on the retard
holder 240 as an example of a retaining member. Rotation support
holes 243 are formed at a downstream side of the retard holder 240
in the document feeding direction with respect to the retard roller
223, and the retard roller 223 is supported to be movable between a
separation position where the nip is formed as the retard roller
223 comes into contact with the feed roller 222 and a retraction
position where the nip is released.
[0061] As a biasing member, a tension coil spring SR is tensely
arranged at the downstream side of the retard holder 240 in the
document feeding direction, and the retard roller 223 is biased so
as to be in pressure contact with the feed roller 222 (see FIG.
&A).
[0062] The arm portion 241 is formed at a lateral portion of the
retard holder 240 to protrude in a rotation axis direction of the
retard roller 223. The arm portion 241 has a cam surface 242 formed
to be inclined in the movement direction of the retard holder 240,
and the retard holder 240 is rotated as a tip end portion 215a of
the projection portion 215 of the tray body 211 comes into contact
with the cam surface 242.
[0063] (2.4) Rotational Movement of Tray Body
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the document loading unit 21 and
the separation unit 224 configured as described above are arranged
such that, when the document G is fed, the document loading unit 21
is positioned at the loading position, and the leading end 214b of
the Mylar film 214 is disposed to cover the retard roller 223.
[0065] In the state in which the document loading unit 21 is
positioned at the loading position as described above, since the
Mylar film 214, as a guide member, covers the upper surface of the
retard roller 223, it is required to separate the Mylar film 214
from the upper side of the retard roller 223 in the case of
replacing the retard roller 223.
[0066] In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.
6B, when the tray body 211 is rotationally moved from a carrying
position to an opened position (the arrow R1 in FIG. 6B), the tip
end portion 215a of the projection portion 215 of the tray body 211
first comes into contact with the cam surface 242 of the arm
portion 241 of the retard holder 240, and thus the retard holder
240 rotates (the arrow R2 in FIG. 6B).
[0067] Since the rotation support hole 243, which serves as a
rotation support point, is formed at the downstream side in the
document feeding direction with respect to the retard roller 223,
the retard roller 223 moves along with the rotation of the retard
holder 240 so as to be spaced apart from the feed roller 222, and
also spaced apart from the Mylar film 214.
[0068] Since the support holes 213Aa and 213Ba of the tray body
211, which serve as rotation support points, are formed at the
upstream side in the document feeding direction (see the arrow R in
FIG. 6A) with respect to the Mylar film 214, the Mylar film 214
fixed to the document end alignment portion 213 of the tray body
211 moves along with the rotation of the tray body 211 so as to be
spaced apart from the retard roller 223.
[0069] When the tray body 211 is further rotated (the arrow R1 in
FIG. 6C), as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the tip end portion 215a of
the projection portion 215 of the tray body 211 moves while coming
into contact with the cam surface 242 of the arm portion 241 of the
retard holder 240, and thus the retard holder 240 is further
rotated (the arrow R2 in FIG. 6C). Further, the Mylar film 214
moves along with the rotation of the tray body 211 in a state in
which the Mylar film 214 is spaced apart from the retard roller
223.
[0070] As a result, the retard roller 223 and the Mylar film 214
move along with the rotational operation of the tray body 211 so as
to be spaced apart from each other, and as a result, it is possible
to prevent deformation of the Mylar film 214 when the retard roller
223 is replaced.
[0071] In a case in which the reading operation is ended, and the
document G ejected to the sheet ejection unit 217 is extracted, the
document loading unit 21 is rotated upward so that the sheet
ejection unit 217 is opened.
[0072] In this case, the retard roller 223 and the Mylar film 214
move along with the rotational operation of the tray body 211 so as
to be spaced apart from each other, and as a result, the
deformation of the Mylar film 214 is prevented without causing the
Mylar film 214 to come into contact with the retard roller 223.
[0073] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the present invention has been provided for the purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to
practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in
the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and
with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *