US 2008/0164650 A1 · FEEDER ASSEMBLY FOR LASER IMAGING APPARATUS

Abstract

An imaging apparatus including a media source having a plurality of sheets of photothermographic imaging media contained therein, an exposure unit including an input engagement point, an output engagement point, and a laser module positioned therebetween, and a driven roller pair forming a nip. A driven roller pair is configured to receive a leading edge of a sheet from a media source and is configured to begin extracting the sheet from the media source and driving the sheet along a transport path extending from the media source to at least the output engagement point of the exposure unit. Upon the leading edge being engaged by the input engagement point, the nip is configured to open while the trailing edge of sheet is still within the media source such that a remaining portion of the sheet is extracted from he media source by the exposure unit while the laser module exposes a desired image on the sheet.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An imaging apparatus comprising:

a media source having a plurality of sheets of photothermographic imaging media contained therein;
an exposure unit including an input engagement point, an output engagement point, and a laser module positioned therebetween;
and
a driven roller pair forming a nip, the driven roller pair configured to receive a leading edge of a sheet from the media source and configured to begin extracting the sheet from the media source and driving the sheet along a transport path extending from the media source to at least the output engagement point of the exposure unit, the transport path having a length less than a transport direction length of the sheet;
wherein upon the leading edge being engaged by the input engagement point the nip is configured to open while trailing edge of the sheet is still within the media source such that a remaining portion of the sheet is extracted from the media source by the exposure unit while the laser module exposes a desired image on the sheet.

2 more elements

A method of operating a laser imaging apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a leading edge of a sheet of photothermographic imaging media in a nip formed by a roller pair;
driving the roller pair so as to begin extracting the sheet from a media source and driving the sheet along a transport path toward an input engagement point of a laser exposure unit, wherein a length of the transport path is less than a transport direction length of the sheet;
opening the nip formed the roller pair upon engagement of the leading edge of the sheet by the input engagement point;
and
continuing to extract a remaining portion of the sheet from the media source by pulling the sheet along the transport path with the laser exposure unit while the laser exposure unit exposes a desired image on the sheet.

2 more elements

A feeder assembly suitable for use with a laser imaging apparatus, the feeder assembly comprising:

a driven roller pair forming a nip;
and
a media guide positioned between the roller pair and an input engagement point of a laser exposure unit and forming a portion of a transport path extend at least between the driven roller pair and the input engagement point, wherein the driven roller pair is configured to receive a leading edge of a sheet of photothermographic imaging media from a media source and is configured to begin extracting the sheet from the media source and driving the sheet along the media guide toward the laser exposure unit, wherein upon the leading edge being engaged by the input engagement point the nip is configured to open while trailing edge of the sheet is still within the media source such that a remaining portion of the sheet is extracted from the media source by the exposure unit while the laser module exposes a desired image on the sheet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Feeder assembly for laser imaging apparatus

Life of this patent

Feeder assembly for laser imaging apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27