The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 23, 1992
Alexandra D Bermel, Spencerport, NY (US);
Larry J Mortellaro, Batavia, NY (US);
Steven M Russel, Pittsford, NY (US);
Robert H Shea, Victor, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
Sheet feed apparatus including a scuff feeder for reliably transporting sheets from the bottom of a stack of sheets without marking of the sheets. The sheet transport apparatus comprises a retard device, located in contact with the lead edge, in the direction of sheet feed, of a sheet stack for preventing double feeding of sheets from the sheet stack. A scuff feed belt is located to have a run extending in the direction of sheet feed substantially above the surface of the tray and below the retard device to form a sheet separation nip with the retard device. The run of the scuff feed belt presents an area of contact with the sheet stack to carry about 50% of the weight of the sheet stack. Additionally, the scuff feed belt of the scuff feeder and the retard device respectively have a plurality of grooves oriented in the direction of sheet feed. The grooves assure adequate sheet feeding contact by the scuff feed belt and the retard device in that the lands of the grooves are far enough apart to penetrate any oil on the sheets and collect the oil in the valleys away from the traction area, yet close enough together to prevent localized high pressure points which would result in toner ruboff.