Sheet feed apparatus and container for an imaging unit

Abstract

A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced. Preferably, the bottom surface (19c) of the liner (19) to the container (16) has a third coefficient of friction, the third coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, whereby the liner (19) is not fed with the last sheets (18). Also preferably, the roller drive surface (25e) to a top surface (18a) of a sheet (18) has a fourth coefficient of friction, the fourth coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction, wherein the last sheet (18) may be fed. Also preferably, the fourth coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction, wherein the sheets (18) may be fed by movement of the drive roller (25c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.