Patent ID: 8118300

Claim:
A sheet feed mechanism comprising: a chassis for supporting a stack of sheets; a top sheet engaging member for engaging a top most sheet of the stack; a stack engaging structure hingedly connected to the chassis, the stack engaging structure adapted to pivot with respect to the chassis to engage a first end of the stack engaging structure with the stack of sheets and bias the top most sheet of the stack of sheets against the top sheet engaging member; a friction surface extending perpendicularly from the stack engaging structure; a lock mechanism having a lock arm hingedly connected to the chassis, the lock mechanism including a biased contact foot for engaging the friction surface to retard a rectilinear movement of the stack engaging structure; and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the contact foot from the friction surface, wherein the stack engaging structure is hinged to the chassis at the same hinge axis as the lock arm, and the first end of the stack engaging structure is supported off the chassis by a resilient member.