Image forming systems with gimbaled retard feeder device

Abstract

An image forming system may include a photoreceptor, a sheet feeding apparatus and a retard feeder device that includes a feed roll, retard roll and nudger roll. The retard feeder device transfers a sheet of paper from the sheet feeding apparatus, through the sheet imaging media registration system and on to the photoreceptor. The retard roll is mounted in a loading bracket to allow the Retard Rollers to be loaded against the Feeder Rollers. The loading bracket is mounted on a pivot pin so that the retard rollers can pivot to maintain equal pressure against both feed roll. A retard feeder device may include a bracket, a feed roll assembly that includes two tires, a retard roll assembly that includes two tires and a nudger roll assembly. The retard roll loading bracket is fastened to a pivot pin so that the retard rollers can pivot to maintain an equal pressure between the tires of the retard roll assembly and the tires of the feed roll assembly.

1 . An image forming system, comprising: 
 a photoreceptor;    a sheet feeding apparatus; and    a retard feeder device that includes a feed roll assembly, a retard roll assembly and a nudger roll assembly, the retard roll assembly including a retard roll tire nip, the feed roll assembly including a feed roll tire nip,    the retard feeder device transferring a sheet of paper from the sheet feeding apparatus to a registration-deskew station and on to the photoreceptor; and    the retard roll assembly mounted on a gimbal pivot pin so that the retard roll assembly pivots into alignment with the feed roll assembly to maintain equal pressure between both of the feed and retard roll tire nips.    
   
   
       2 . The image forming system of  claim 1 , wherein the retard roll assembly pivots either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction around the gimbal pivot pin.  
   
   
       3 . The image forming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gimbal pivot pin is positioned in between a feed head frame and the retard feeder device.  
   
   
       4 . The image forming system of  claim 3 , the retard roll assembly comprising a carrier bracket, wherein a gimbal bracket is connected to the carrier bracket and is fastened to the pivot pin using a fastener.  
   
   
       5 . The image forming system of  claim 4 , comprising a drag clutch attached to the carrier bracket of the retard roll assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The image forming system of  claim 5 , wherein the drag clutch allows the retard roll assembly to overcome a frictional drag torque of the retard roll assembly and rotate when a sufficient friction force is place on the retard roll assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The image forming system of  claim 5 , comprising a balance weight connected to the carrier bracket of the retard roll assembly, the balance weight offsetting an asymmetric moment from the drag clutch and forcing a center of gravity back to an axis of the gimbal pivot pin.  
   
   
       8 . The image forming system of  claim 7 , wherein the feed roll assembly and retard roll assembly are formed as feed roll and retard roll tires, respectively, and the retard roll assembly having the carrier bracket is spring loaded so that the retard roll assembly develops equal pressure on the feed and retard roll tires.  
   
   
       9 . The image forming system of  claim 7 , wherein the feed roll assembly and retard roll assembly are formed as tires composed of urethane, silicon or a high coefficient friction material.  
   
   
       10 . The image forming system of  claim 9 , wherein the nudger roll assembly contacts the sheet of paper and rotates to advance the sheet of paper to the feed roll assembly and retard roll assembly from the sheet feeding apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . A retard feeder device, comprising: 
 a feed head frame;    a feed roll assembly that includes either two tires or one wide roller;    a retard roll assembly that includes a carrier bracket, a gimbal bracket, and either two tires or one wide roller; and    a nudger roll assembly,    the retard roll assembly fastened to a gimbal pivot pin so that the retard roll assembly pivots to maintain an equal pressure between the tires or roller of the retard roll assembly and the tires or roll of the feed roll assembly.    
   
   
       12 . The retard feeder device of  claim 11 , wherein the retard roll assembly including the carrier bracket and the gimbal bracket is fastened to the pivot pin using a fastener.  
   
   
       13 . The retard feeder device of  claim 12 , wherein the retard roll assembly pivots either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction around the gimbal pivot pin.  
   
   
       14 . The retard feeder device of  claim 13 , wherein the retard roll assembly having the carrier bracket is connected to gimbal pivot pin using the gimbal bracket.  
   
   
       15 . The retard feeder device of  claim 11 , comprising a drag clutch connected to the carrier bracket.  
   
   
       16 . The retard feeder device of  claim 15 , wherein the drag clutch allows the retard roll assembly to overcome frictional drag torque and rotate when a sufficient frictional force is place on the retard roll assembly.  
   
   
       17 . The retard feeder device of  claim 16 , comprising a balance weight connected to the carrier bracket, the balance weight offsetting an asymmetric moment from the drag clutch and forcing a center of gravity back to an axis of the gimbal pivot pin.  
   
   
       18 . The retard feeder device of  claim 17 , the feed roll assembly comprising tires, wherein the retard roll assembly is spring loaded so that the retard roll assembly develops equal pressure against the feed roll assembly tires.  
   
   
       19 . The retard feeder device of  claim 18 , wherein the tires are composed of urethane, silicon or a high coefficient friction material.  
   
   
       20 . The retard feeder device of  claim 19 , the retard roll assembly including a retard roll nip, the feed roll assembly including a feed roll nip, wherein the nudger roll assembly contact a sheet of paper and rotates to advance the sheet of paper to the feed roll and retard roll nips from a stack of paper.