Patent ID: 7823879

Claim:
An apparatus for deskewing a media sheet having a sheet length, with and thickness, comprising: a sheet feed system for transporting said media sheet along a media feed path in a media feed direction; and a split alignment gate positioned to intersect said media feed path, said split alignment gate subjecting said media sheet to a deskewing force, wherein an amount of said deskewing force is automatically determined based on a width of said media sheet in a direction transverse to said media direction; wherein said media sheet being transported exerts a media engagement force against said split alignment gate, said media sheet deflecting and passing over said split alignment gate when said media engagement force said deskewing force; wherein said split alignment gate is coupled to a frame, said split alignment gate includes a first gate member and a second gate member; a first biasing spring coupled between said first gate member and said frame; a second biasing spring coupled between said second gate member and said frame; said first gate member and a second gate member being configured such that said first gate member is biased to a gating position by both said first biasing spring and said second biasing spring, and said second gate member is biased to said gating position by only said second biasing spring.