Patent ID: 6840514

Claim:
A media alignment mechanism for aligning each sheet of media with a reference edge for providing a desired media alignment direction during its advancement along a predetermined path comprising: a pair of spaced elements defining the predetermined path along which each sheet of media is advanced and having a substantially constant space therebetween; a first reference edge segment supported for disposition between said pair of spaced elements, said first reference edge segment having a media engaging surface for initially engaging a portion of a sheet of media as it is advanced relative to said first reference edge segment; first advancing means for advancing a side surface of the sheet of media into said media engaging surface of said first reference edge segment and along said media engaging surface of said first reference edge segment; a second reference edge segment spaced from said first reference edge segment in the direction of advancement of the sheet of media, said second reference edge segment supported for disposition between said pair of spaced elements, said second reference edge segment having a media engaging surface for engaging a portion of the sheet of media as it is advanced relative to said second reference edge segment; second advancing means for advancing the side surface of the sheet of media into said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment and along said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment to align the sheet of media with said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment; said second reference edge segment having said media engaging surface providing the desired media alignment direction; each of said pair of spaced elements having a non-linear portion between said first reference edge segment and said second reference edge segment for supporting and guiding the sheet of media during its advancement from said first reference edge segment to said second reference edge segment, said non-linear portions having a shape to break the beam of the sheet of media during its advancement through the space between said non-linear portions to enable a side surface of the sheet of media to be moved by said second advancing means into alignment with said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment when the sheet of media engages said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment while the side surface of the sheet of media is simultaneously in engagement with said media engaging surface of said first reference edge segment; and said media engaging surface of said first reference edge segment being angled relative to said media engaging surface of said second reference edge segment so that the sheet of media has its leading edge pass inwardly of a media entry end of said second reference edge segment after its advancement through the space between said pair of non-linear portions to insure that the leading edge of the sheet of media does not engage the media entry end of said second reference edge segment.