Patent ID: 7226048

Claim:
An imaging apparatus having a sheet feed path, comprising: an automatic sheet feeder having a media tray for supporting a stack of print media, and a sheet picking mechanism for picking a sheet from said stack of print media; a sheet picking mechanism drive unit including a sheet pick gear train for driving said sheet picking mechanism to transport said sheet from said stack of print media along said sheet feed path; a print media dam pivotably coupled at an axis to said imaging apparatus, said print media dam being formed by: an elongate beam extending along said axis, at least one dam member extending radially outwardly from said elongate beam, each said dam member having a media engaging surface, and an extension member extending radially outwardly from said elongate beam, said extension member including teeth forming a first gear; and a drive mechanism drivably coupled between said sheet picking drive mechanism and said first gear to move said at least one dam member between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when said at least one dam member is in said extended position, said media engaging surface is positioned to interrupt said sheet feed path, and when said at least one dam member is in said retracted position, said media engaging surface is positioned to not interrupt said sheet feed path, wherein said extension member is located in a central region of said elongate beam along said axis, and said first gear is a curved gear rack.