Sheet feed mechanism with speed feeders

A sheet feed mechanism used to feed a continuous recording sheet, having a plurality of equally spaced sprocket holes disposed on each side thereof, through an imaging apparatus that employs an electrophotographic transfer process, said imaging apparatus comprising a photoconductive member and a transfer means that are disposed opposite to each other, said sheet feed mechanism feeding said continuous recording sheet along a feed plane between said photoconductive member and said transfer means, said sheet feed mechanism comprising a pair of feed means, each of said feed means disposed at one side of a sheet feeding path and parallel to each other, each of said feed means comprises:

• a pair of rotating members, one of said rotating member located upstream from said transfer means, and the other of said rotating members located downstream from said transfer means;
• a belt member looped around said rotating members, said belt member having a plurality of equally spaced engaging members, said engaging members engaging said sprocket holes of said continuous recording sheet;
• said engaging members facing and being exposed to said photoconductive member;
• and
• regulation means for regulating a movement path of said belt member such that said engaging members of said belt member are held out of contact with said photoconductive member.

A sheet feed mechanism wherein a continuous form sheet having a plurality of sprocket holes spaced at a predetermined interval, formed on both side edges thereof along a direction of a straight sheet feed path, is fed between a photoconductive member and a transfer member, said sheet feed mechanism comprises:

• a pair of feed rollers disposed upstream and downstream of said transfer member, respectively, in said sheet feed path, each having a plurality of engaging pins arranged on a circumferential surface thereof a at said predetermined interval;
• and
• an endless tractor belt extending between said pair of feed rollers, said endless belt being provided with a plurality of engaging holes in the longitudinal direction thereof at said predetermined interval for receiving said engaging pins of said pair of feed rollers therethrough,
• whereby said tractor belt is endlessly rotated upon rotation of at least one of said pair of feed rollers by means of engagement of said engaging pins and said engaging holes, and said continuous form sheet is fed straight, between said photoconductive member and said transfer member by said tractor belt by means of engagement of said engaging pins and said sprocket holes.

A sheet feeding mechanism wherein a continuous form sheet, having a plurality of sprocket holes spaced at a predetermined interval formed on both side edges thereof in a direction along a straight feed path is fed between a photoconductive member and a transfer member, said sheet feed mechanism comprising:

• first and second feed rollers disposed upstream and downstream of said transfer member, respectively, in said feed path;
• an endless tractor belt extending between said first and second feed rollers, said tractor belt being provided with a plurality of engaging pins in a longitudinal direction thereof, spaced at said predetermined interval;
• said engaging pins facing and being exposed to said photoconductive member;
• and
• a regulation means for regulating an upper path portion of said tractor belt to be spaced apart from said photoconductive member;
• whereby said tractor belt is endlessly rotated upon rotation of at lest one of said pair of feed rollers, and said continuous form sheet is fed straight, between said photoconductive member and said transfer member by means of engagement of said engagement pins and said sprocket holes.

An image apparatus which transfers an image onto a continuous recording sheet having a plurality of equally spaced sprocket holes, comprising:

• a photoconductive member;
• a transfer means disposed opposite said photoconductive member;
• first and second feeders feeding said continuous recording sheet along a sheet feeding path, said sheet feeding path passing between said photoconductive member and said transfer means;
• said first and second sheet feeders being disposed parallel to each other and on opposite sides of the sheet feeding path, each of said first and second sheet feeders including:
• a first rotating member disposed upstream from said transfer means, and a second rotating member disposed downstream from said transfer means;
• a belt member, looped around said first and second rotating members;
• said belt member having a plurality of equally spaced engaging members, said engaging members engaging said sprocket holes of said continuous recording sheet;
• and
• a guide member having a diverting area disposed in said sheet feeding path and between said photoconductive member and said transfer means, said diverting area moving said belt member out of contact with said photoconductive member.

An image apparatus with transfers and image onto a continuous recording sheet having a plurality of equally spaced sprocket holes, comprising:

• a photoconductive member;
• a transfer means disposed opposite said photoconductive member;
• fist and second feeders feeding said continuous recording sheet along a sheet feeding path, said sheet feeding path passing between said photoconductive member and said transfer means;
• said first and second sheet feeders being disposed parallel to each other and on opposite sides of the sheet feeding path, each of said first and second sheet feeders including:
• a first rotating member disposed upstream from said transfer means, and a second rotating member disposed downstream from said transfer means;
• a belt member, looped around said first and second rotating members;
• said belt member having a plurality of equally spaced engaging members, said engaging members engaging said sprocket holes of said continuous recording sheet;
• and
• a guide member, disposed between said photoconductive member and said transfer means, which disengages said engaging members from said sprocket holes.