Abstract: A low profile, alignment assembly for a media feed roll assembly using torsion spring biasing. The alignment assembly has a first and a second spaced bushings mountable to a frame. Each bushing has a circular collar and a cradle positioned along a common centerline for rotatably holding a driven first and an opposed second shaft on the common centerline. A first and a second torsion spring mount around the second shaft adjacent to the first and second bushing, respectively, and each has a pair of legs extending tangentially therefrom, attachable to the frame or respective bushing and forming a substantially planar profile. Each torsion spring biases the second shaft toward the first shaft along the common centerline and, as a media sheet moves between the first and second shafts, allows the second shaft to move within the cradles radially away from the first shaft along the common centerline.

Abstract: A center-fed media feed system including a media sheet pick mechanism having a hub-mounted D-shaped pick tire having variable tread width along the outer circumference thereof and a media aligner downstream of the pick mechanism. The nip of the pick tire contacting a media sheet is disposed at a first predetermined distance from the media aligner. A wide tread portion initially contacts a leading edge portion of the media sheet providing a first media feeding force to move the media sheet toward the media aligner and, at a second predetermined distance between the leading edge of the media and the media aligner, a narrow tread portion of the pick tire contacts the media so as to provide a reduced media feeding force, allowing the media sheet to align to the media aligner and then be fed into a feed nip in the media aligner or a downstream feed roll pair.

Abstract: A low profile, alignment assembly for a media feed roll assembly using torsion spring biasing. The alignment assembly has a first and a second spaced bushings mountable to a frame. Each bushing has a circular collar and a cradle positioned along a common centerline for rotatably holding a driven first and an opposed second shaft on the common centerline. A first and a second torsion spring mount around the second shaft adjacent to the first and second bushing, respectively, and each has a pair of legs extending tangentially therefrom, attachable to the frame or respective bushing and forming a substantially planar profile. Each torsion spring biases the second shaft toward the first shaft along the common centerline and, as a media sheet moves between the first and second shafts, allows the second shaft to move within the cradles radially away from the first shaft along the common centerline.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a media sheet includes a sheet feed system for transporting the media sheet along a media feed path in a media feed direction and an alignment assembly is positioned to intersect the media feed path. The alignment assembly includes a deflectable member having a plurality of sets of arms, each of the arms of each set has a contact surface defining a plane unique to each set of arms. The media sheet aligns as it exerts a media engagement force on the alignment assembly and causes the alignment assembly to deflect when the media engagement force exceeds the aligning force.