Patent ID: 7232124
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet separator comprising: an advancing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet forwards along a sheet path; a reversing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet backwards along the sheet path, wherein the reversing roller and advancing roller are relatively moveable between a pinched position, whereby the advancing and reversing rollers are in contact with each other, and a separated position, whereby the advancing and reversing rollers are not in contact with each other; the reversing roller being coupled to a torque limiter, which is configured to allow the reversing roller to slip and counter-rotate with the advancing roller when friction applied by the advancing roller on the reversing roller during the pinched position exceeds a preset value; and at least one override roller mounted co-axially with the reversing roller, wherein said at least one override roller has an outer circumferential surface, which includes a first surface segment with a first radius that is larger than the radius of the reversing roller and a second surface segment with a second radius that is smaller than the radius of the reversing roller, and wherein the override roller is rotatable to expose said first surface segment or said second surface segment to the sheet path such that, when the advancing and reversing rollers are separated, said first surface segment is exposed to the sheet path, and when the advancing and reversing rollers are in the pinched position, said second surface segment is exposed to the sheet path.