Patent ID: 6312178
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A media handling system for handling sheets of media, comprising:a pick roller structure having a circumferential media-contacting surface and arranged for rotation about a roller axis to contact and pick a sheet from an input source;a drive roller structure arranged for rotation about a drive roller axis;a media path extending between the pick roller structure and the drive roller structure;a first guide structure positioned along a first longitudinal edge of the media path and providing a first media guide surface, said first guide surface being above and substantially parallel to a top surface of said sheet;a second guide structure positioned along a second longitudinal edge of the media path and providing a second media guide surface, said second guide surface being below and substantially parallel to a bottom surface of said sheet;said media path being between the first guide structure and the second guide structure and having a media entrance adjacent the pick roller structure and a media exit adjacent the drive roller structure, and wherein a width defined by a distance between the first guide structure and the second guide structure of the media path is greater at the media exit than at the media entrance;wherein the first and second guide surfaces are positioned to constrain the movement of a trailing edge of the media sheet in the media path between the pick roller structure and the drive roller structure, thereby reducing trailing edge print defects.