Method and apparatus for guiding media

A media guiding apparatus in a media supply apparatus, the media supply apparatus including a transport nip and a sheet separator for moving a top sheet of the plurality of sheets of media, the media guiding apparatus comprising:

• a first guide surface adjacent to the transport nip;
• a second guide surface spaced from the first guide surface;
• a plurality of guide members extending from the first guide surface to the sheet separator, wherein the sheet separator includes an elongated housing containing a plurality of openings, and each of the plurality of guide members extends through one of the plurality of openings;
• and
• a substantially uninterrupted media path between the sheet separator and the first guide surface, the media path defined by the second guide surface and at least one guide member to direct a sheet of media toward the transport nip.

A method of guiding a sheet of media from a media supply apparatus to a transport nip, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first guide surface adjacent to the transport nip;
• providing a second guide surface spaced from the first guide surface;
• providing a sheet separator that is movable within the media supply apparatus;
• providing a plurality of guide members that extend from the first guide surface to the sheet separator, wherein the sheet separator includes an elongated housing containing a plurality of openings, and each of the plurality of guide members extends through one of the plurality of opening;
• providing at least one guide member that extends from the first guide surface to the sheet separator to define at least a portion of a substantially uninterrupted media path between the sheet separator and the transport nip;
• and
• contacting the sheet of media with the sheet separator to advance the sheet between the at least one guide member and the second guide surface and into the transport nip.