Sheet Separating Mechanism And Sheet Feeding Apparatus Having The Same

Abstract

A sheet separating mechanism for a sheet feeding apparatus includes a separation wall configured to face a stack of media sheets and a media guide attached to a top end of the separation wall. The separation wall includes an inclined surface that confronts the leading edges of the media sheets in the stack and a separation strip disposed on the inclined surface. At least one flat spring having a deflectable free end and a friction pad adhered to the free end is removably attached to the media guide. The separation strip and the friction pad are arranged such that, during a sheet feeding operation, the separation strip defines an initial separation surface and the friction pad defines a second separation surface downstream from the initial separation surface in the sheet feeding direction.

1 . A sheet separating mechanism for separating individual sheets from a stack of media sheets during a sheet feeding operation, said sheet separating mechanism comprising:
 a separation wall configured to face a stack of media sheets, said separation wall comprising an inclined surface that confronts the leading edges of the media sheets in the stack and a separation strip disposed on said inclined surface;   a media guide attached to a top end of the separation wall for guiding the movement of a sheet; and   at least one flat spring attached to said media guide, said flat spring having a deflectable free end and a friction pad adhered to the free end,   wherein the separation strip and the friction pad are configured to apply friction to the leading edges of the sheets coming into contact therewith, and   wherein the separation strip and the friction pad are arranged such that the separation strip defines an initial separation surface and the friction pad defines a second separation surface downstream from the initial separation surface in a sheet feeding direction.   
   
   
       2 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said separation strip is formed of an elastomer. 
   
   
       3 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said friction pad is formed of a cork material. 
   
   
       4 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said flat spring is removably attached to said media guide. 
   
   
       5 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein said flat spring is configured to have two arms for clipping onto the media guide. 
   
   
       6 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said flat spring is made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       7 . The sheet separating mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said media guide comprises a plurality of spaced apart extensions and said flat spring is positioned between adjacent extensions. 
   
   
       8 . A sheet feeding apparatus for supplying sheets, one by one, from a stack of media sheets in a sheet feeding direction, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 a support surface for supporting a stack of media sheets;   a separation wall having an inclined surface that forms an obtuse angle relative to said support surface and a separation strip disposed on said inclined surface, said separation strip being configured to apply friction to the leading edges of sheets coming into contact therewith;   a rotatable pick roller operable to urge an uppermost sheet in the stack of media sheets towards and along the separation wall;   a media guide attached to a top end of the separation wall;   a plurality of turn rollers mounted adjacent to the media guide; and   at least one flat spring having a deflectable free end and a friction pad adhered to said free end, said friction pad being configured to apply friction to the leading edges of sheets coming into contact therewith,   wherein said flat spring is attached to said media guide and positioned such that said friction pad is in pressing contact with one of the turn rollers.   
   
   
       9 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the free end of the flat spring is deflectable away from said one of the turning rollers to accommodate media sheets of different thicknesses. 
   
   
       10 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said separation strip is formed of an elastomer. 
   
   
       11 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said friction pad is formed of a cork material. 
   
   
       12 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said flat spring is removably attached to the media guide. 
   
   
       13 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said flat spring is configured to have two arms for clipping onto the media guide. 
   
   
       14 . The sheet feeding apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of said flat spring are attached to said media guide, each flat spring being positioned such that the friction pad thereon is in pressing contact with a corresponding turn roller.