Paper feed roller assembly for a typewriter or printer

Abstract

A feed roll/paper deflector assembly for a printer or typewriter having a platen is described. The feed roll assembly is fabricated in such a way as to allow simple insertion into the printer or typewriter assembly and the retention of the feed roll assembly in a proper position within the typewriter by a hooking engagement with a paper release bail. Movement of the paper release bail will compress a spring allowing the paper deflector and feed rolls to be withdrawn from the periphery of the platen. The device allows automated assembly of the paper feed roll assembly into a machine and, in addition, provides complete self-alignment capability for the feed rolls with respect to the periphery of the platen.

We claim: 
     
       1. A manually insertable and removeable paper feed roll device for a printer having a rotatable platen, a frame comprising a frame having sides and at least a rail extending therebetween and a release bail capable of operator movement away from said platen, comprising: a paper deflector support;   a paper deflector;   a plurality of feed rolls, said feed rolls having a periphery extending through said paper deflector for engagement of said platen;   support means for maintaining said feed rolls in spaced relation to each other;   said paper deflector support supportable on said support means and moveable thereon;   said paper deflector support further comprising retraction and retention means for engaging said release bail to retract said paper deflector support upon movement of said release bail;   spring means engageable with said rail and biasingly engaged with said support means, whereby said device is manually insertable into said printer and retained therein by said retention means .[.engaging said release bail,.]. and said support means are biased to engage said feed rolls with said platen when said release bail is disengaged from said retraction .[.and retention.]. means.   
     
     
       2. The feed roll device of claim 1 wherein said spring means engages said support means with a tenon and mortise connection. 
     
     
       3. The feed roll device of claim 2 wherein said connection permits free movement permitting alignment of said rolls with said platen.