Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Melinda Kaye Kovach

Eric Julius Donaldson

Jon E Holmes

Stuart J Wyman

Gerald L Metcalf

Kenneth J Hagen

Leigh Allen Mazion

Shawn Lee Allen

Norman Herauf

A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced. Preferably, the bottom surface (19c) of the liner (19) to the container (16) has a third coefficient of friction, the third coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, whereby the liner (19) is not fed with the last sheets (18). Also preferably, the roller drive surface (25e) to a top surface (18a) of a sheet (18) has a fourth coefficient of friction, the fourth coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, wherein the last sheet (18) may be fed. Also preferably, the fourth coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction, wherein the sheets (18) may be fed by movement of the drive roller (25c).

Sheet feed apparatus and container for an imaging unit

A container and liner combination includes an interlock feature. Multiple sheets of photosensitive material are placed on the liner. The container has a base in which the liner is positioned. The base has a interlock feature and the liner has a mating interlock feature. The interlock feature prevents movement of the liner in the feed direction as well as in a direction opposite the feed direction.

Container and liner combination having interlocking feature for storing

A container and a method of using the container for storing sheets of material, such as photosensitive materials, enables individual sheets to be transported from the container to an imaging unit by a feed mechanism of the imaging unit. The container fits within the imaging unit to provide a light-tight environment for the photosensitive material. The container includes shiftable walls, including a front ramp which can have a serrated surface to separate sheets. The container also includes a clamping components to allow for the removal of a light-tight bag which encloses the sheets.

Imaging unit container having shiftable walls

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Melinda Kaye Kovach