Media bed

Abstract

Various embodiments and methods relating to a media bed are disclosed.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a media pick device;    a media bed movable relative to the media pick device;    a media bed bias;    an actuator; and    a controller configured to generate control signals, wherein the actuator moves the media bed bias to adjust force at which the media bed is urged towards the media pick device in response to the control signals.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signals based at least upon occurrences of multiple pick sheets.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signals based at least upon occurrences of missed picks.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signals based upon a characteristic of a medium upon the bed.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a movable support, wherein the bias is coupled between the support and the bed and wherein the actuator is coupled to the support to move the support to adjust a force at which the media bed is urged towards the media pick device.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the media bed bias includes a tension spring.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the support pivots.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support pivots.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor configured to generate sensor signals representing picking or missed picking of sheets, wherein the controller generates the control signals based at least in part upon the sensor signals.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a media interaction device configured to act with a picked medium.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an input in communication with the controller and configured to facilitate input of at least one characteristic of media on the bed.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a stepper motor.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a media pick device;    a media bed movable relative to the media pick device;    a support structure; and    a spring between the support structure and the bed, wherein the support structure is movable between a first position in which the spring applies a first force to the bed and a second position in which the spring applies a second force to the bed.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the support is configured to pivot.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a manually actuatable lever coupled to the support to pivot the support.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the lever is configured to pivot the support between discrete identified positions, each position corresponding to a type of medium to be picked.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the support to move the support between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a controller configured to generate control signals, wherein the actuator moves the support in response to the control signals.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a sensor configured to generate sensor signals representing picking or missed picking of sheets, wherein the control generates the control signals based at least in part upon the sensor signals.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising an input in communication with the controller and configured to facilitate input of at least one characteristic of media on the bed.  
   
   
       21 . A method comprising: 
 biasing a media bed towards a pick device with a force; and    generating control signals to selectively operate an actuator to adjust the force.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising sensing a presence or absence of one or more picked sheets, wherein the force is adjusted based at least in part on the sensed presence or absence of the one or more picked sheets.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the media bed is biased by a spring between the bed and a support and wherein the force is adjusted by the actuator moving the support.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the force is adjusted by the actuator pivoting the support.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the force is adjusted based upon a characteristic of a medium being picked from the bed.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  comprising inputting at least one characteristic of a medium to be picked from the bed, wherein the force is adjusted based at least upon the at least one characteristic.  
   
   
       27 . A method comprising: 
 resiliently biasing a media bed towards a pick device with a tension spring having a first end connected to a support structure and a second end connected to the bed; and    moving the support to adjust a force supplied by the spring to the bed.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising manually moving a lever operably coupled to the support.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising generating control signals to selectively operate an actuator to move the support.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a pick device;    a media bed;    means for urging the bed towards the pick device with a force; and    means for selectively adjusting the force based at least upon at least one of picking performance, media characteristics or environmental conditions.