Replaceable feed/retard roll unit
First Claim
1. A unitary feed member apparatus for a feed head assembly for feeding cut sheets from a stack of sheets, comprising:
- a frame;
a plurality of rotatable members mounted in said frame; and
a retard member removably mounted in said frame adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members so that when said frame is inserted in the feed head assembly and moved from a first position to a second position, said retard member is released from said frame and forms a nip with said adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A replacement roller cartridge for a cut sheet retard feeder. The cartridge assembly includes a feed roll , a nudger roll, and a retard roll aligned so that the axis of rotation are substantially in the same plane within a frame. The frame is inserted into the feed head and pivoted into an active position. Upon insertion into the feed head, the retard roll is captured by a separate retard bracket so that when the feed head is pivoted into the active position the retard roll is withdrawn from the frame and forms a feed nip with the feed roll. A gear train is provided on both sides of the cartridge to drive the feed roll and the nudger roll. The cartridge assembly provides a low cost, easily replaceable unit that eliminates the need for a service technician to replace worn feed rolls. The design is also adaptable for use in various types of sheet and document feeders and can be used throughout a printing machine. The preassembled cartridge also obviates the need for a technician to calibrate or adjust the positions of the feed rolls as they are locked into position upon insertion and rotation of the cartridge frame into the feed head.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A unitary feed member apparatus for a feed head assembly for feeding cut sheets from a stack of sheets, comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of rotatable members mounted in said frame; and a retard member removably mounted in said frame adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members so that when said frame is inserted in the feed head assembly and moved from a first position to a second position, said retard member is released from said frame and forms a nip with said adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrophotographic printing machine having a sheet feeder having a unitary feed member cartridge for the feed head for feeding cut sheets from a stack of sheets, comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of rotatable members mounted in said frame; a retard member removably mounted in said frame adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members so that when said frame is inserted in the feed head assembly and moved from a first position to a second position, said retard member is released from said frame and forms a nip with said adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A customer replaceable unit for a sheet feeder for feeding cut sheets from a stack of sheets, comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of rotatable members mounted in said frame; and a retard member removably mounted in said frame adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members so that when said frame is inserted in the feed head assembly and moved from a first position to a second position, said retard member is released from said frame and forms a nip with said adjacent one of said plurality of rotatable members. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification