Abstract: Spring nail (32, 34, 72, 96) for a sheet feeding device (10). The spring nail (32, 34, 72, 96) has a mounting end (36, 74) for attaching to the sheet feeding device (10) and a free end (38, 78) opposite the mounting end (36, 74), the free end (38, 78) being disposed to engage a top sheet (16) of a stack of sheets (14) to be fed and exert a resilient biasing force thereagainst to form a loop or bow in the top sheet (16) for separating the top sheet (16) from the stack (14) when the top sheet (16) is to be removed from the stack (14). The spring nails (32, 34, 72, 96) are preferably positioned for engaging the respective leading corners (28, 30) of the top sheet (16) and each has a spring arm portion (40, 80) between the mounting end (36, 74) and the free end (38, 78) having properties of a spring for resiliently biasing the free end (38, 78) against the top sheet (16).

Abstract: A printer having an interference-free receiver sheet feed path and method of assembling the printer. The printer, which is a thermal dye printer, comprises a print head for forming an image on a movable receiver sheet belonging to a stack of receiver sheets having a front edge portion. The stack of receiver sheets reside in a receiver sheet supply tray. A roller feeds the top-most receiver sheet along a receiver sheet feed path, leading edge first, from the supply tray and to the print head for printing by means of thermal activation of a first one of a plurality of dye donor patches belonging to a dye donor ribbon. After the first dye donor patch prints, the receiver sheet returns, trailing edge first, to the supply tray before printing by the next dye donor patch.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus and receiver tray capable of automatically accommodating receiver sheets of various sizes, and method of assembling same. The tray includes a housing having a lateral sidewall and a rear sidewall. The tray also includes a resilient first alignment member disposed adjacent the lateral sidewall of the housing for abutting a lateral marginal edge of the stack. The tray further includes a resilient second alignment member and a resilient third alignment member both adjacent the rear wall of the housing. If a sheet of a first size (e.g., “A4-sized”) is loaded onto the platen, the lateral marginal edge of the sheet will abut the first alignment member and a rearwardly-facing marginal edge of the sheet will rest atop and compress the second alignment member; however, the rearwardly-facing marginal edge of the sheet will abut the third alignment member.

Abstract: A printer and receiver supply tray adapted to sense amount of receiver therein, and method thereof. The printer comprises a print head for printing an image on the receiver and a supply tray associated with the print head for holding a plurality of cut sheets of the receiver, the cut sheets defining a stack of sheets having a predetermined height. A sheet feeder engages the stack of sheets for sequentially feeding sheets from the tray and to the print head, such that height of the stack of sheets decreases as the sheets are fed therefrom. A platen is movably connected to the tray for continuously supporting the stack of sheets in the tray as height of the stack of sheets decreases. An indicator is connected to the platen and movable therewith for indicating height of the stack of sheets as the height of the stack of sheets decreases. The indicator has a surface area thereon of a predetermined light reflectance associated with the amount of sheets in the tray.

Abstract: A cleaning disc for removing contaminant matter from a rotatable feed roller belonging to an imaging device. The disc comprises a cleaning layer, which may be a tack layer or an abrasion layer, engageable with the roller and rotatable therewith. The cleaning layer removes the contaminant matter as the cleaning layer engages and rotates with the roller. The cleaning layer is attached to a substrate for supporting the cleaning layer, the substrate having a protruding portion thereof sized to be slidably received in the recess to fix position of the disc to act as a pivot with respect to the feed roller. In addition, a protective layer is removably attached to the cleaning layer for protecting the cleaning layer prior to use.

Abstract: A cartridge system and method adapted to tension a dye ribbon associated therewith. The cartridge system is disposed in a printer that includes an enclosure. A first spool belonging to the cartridge system is disposed in the enclosure. The first spool has the dye ribbon wound thereabout. The dye ribbon has a leading end portion extending from the first spool. A second spool is associated with the first spool, the second spool having the leading end portion of the dye ribbon connected thereto. A cartridge body, which houses the first spool and the second spool, has a flexible portion movable from a first position thereof spaced-apart from the dye ribbon wound about the first spool to a second position thereof into engagement with the dye ribbon wound about the first spool. When the flexible portion moves to the second position thereof, it imposes a drag force acting on the dye ribbon in order to tension the dye ribbon as the drag force acts on the dye ribbon.

Abstract: A chassis for mounting components in a photographic film scanning apparatus cabinet includes a planar base member, and bearing mounts integral with the base member. The mounts sized and configured to hold bearings against which an arcuate wear plate of a gate of the scanning apparatus registers. The gate is configured to move in a pendulum-like manner across the bearings, with an aperture in the planar member for rotatably accommodating a shaft of a drive system for moving the gate in the pendulum-like manner. Mounts integral with the planar base member are provided for holding an optical system of the scanning apparatus. A continuous integral rib is arranged on the rear surface of the planar member is tuned to a higher natural frequency than that of the scanning frequency for vibrationally isolating the planar base member from other components in the cabinet.

Abstract: A platen protecting thermal printing system effects borderless printing on an image receiver by thermal transfer of image imparting substance such as diffusible or sublimable dye from a donor web at a printing nip between coextensive portions of a thermal head and cooperating platen defining a nip width. The web is disposed between the head and receiver, and a platen protecting extension member is disposed between the receiver and platen, for common travel of the web, receiver and member through the nip during printing. The web width exceeds the receiver width and exceeds, equals or is exceeded by the nip width. The member width exceeds the nip width when the web width exceeds or equals the nip width, and exceeds the web width when the nip width exceeds the web width. The member is overprinted on its lateral portions extending beyond the receiver side edges within the range of the web width and/or nip width, while preventing overprinting on the platen.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a fuser roller and a heating element movable relative to the roller between a nonfusing position and a fusing position. At the nonfusing position, the heating element is spaced a first preselected distance from the roller, and at the fusing position, the heating element is spaced a second preselected distance from the roller with the first distance being greater than the second distance. A protective web traverses a path between the heating element and the roller and covers a portion of the roller surface greater than the width of the heating element to thereby protect the roller surface.

Abstract: A thermal printer contains a thermal print head with a bead line, a print drum with surface openings, and a two-part sensor assembly with a first member mounted on the thermal print head adjacent the bead line and a second member mounted in one of the surface openings. The first and second members of the sensor assembly are alignable to communicate with one another to detect the presence of the dye donor web. Because the sensors are mounted on the print drum and mounted on or embedded in the print head at the bead line, the dye donor web is detected at the print line.