Patent ID: 8485519

Claim:
A media separating and feeding mechanism comprising: a feed roller for feeding sheet media, the feed roller protruding from a guide surface for guiding media in a feeding direction; a pressure member for pressing the sheet media towards the feed roller and the guide surface; a separation roller for separating and feeding the sheet media fed by the feed roller, said separation roller being located downstream of said feed roller; a single drive motor for driving the feed roller, separation roller, and pressure member; a drive power transfer mechanism for transferring torque from the drive motor to the feed roller, separation roller, and pressure member; a loading unit configured to receive sheet media loaded therein, the guide surface defining a surface of the loading unit; and a sensor configured to detect presence of sheet media within the loading unit, wherein the drive power transfer mechanism selectively switches between transferring torque to the feed roller and separation roller, and transferring torque to the pressure member, according to a direction of drive motor rotation, wherein the direction of drive motor rotation is based on whether any sheet media is present between the pressure member and the feed roller, wherein when the sensor detects presence of sheet media within the loading unit, the drive motor moves in a direction to transfer torque to the feed roller and separation roller, and wherein when the sensor detects that sheet media is not present within the loading unit, the drive motor moves in a direction to transfer torque to the pressure member.