Spring nail for a sheet feeding device

A spring nail for a sheet feeding device, comprising:

• a mounting end for attaching to the sheet feeding device and a free end opposite the mounting end, the free end being disposed to engage and exert a resilient biasing force against a top sheet of a stack of sheets to be fed to force a loop or bow in the top sheet for separating the top sheet from the stack when the top is sheet removed from the stack wherein the spring nail is molded of a plastics material.

A sheet feeding device comprising:

• an element for supporting a stack of sheets including a top sheet to be fed, the top sheet having a top surface;
• and
• at least one spring nail having a mounting end attached to the sheet feeding device and a free end opposite the mounting end, the free end being disposed to engage and exert a resilient biasing force against the top surface of the top sheet to force a loop or bow in the top sheet for separating the top sheet from the stack when the top sheet is removed from the stack wherein the spring nail is made from a wire selected from the group consisting of spring wire and music wire.

A sheet feeding device comprising:

• an element for supporting a stack of sheets including a top sheet to be fed, the top sheet having a top surface;
• and
• at least one spring nail having a mounting end attached to the sheet feeding device and a free end opposite the mounting end, the free end being disposed to engage and exert a resilient biasing force against the top surface of the top sheet to force a loop or bow in the top sheet for separating the top sheet from the stack when the top sheet is removed from the stack wherein the spring nail has a generally round cross-sectional shape.

A spring nail for a sheet feeding device, comprising:

• a mounting end for attaching to the sheet feeding device and a free end opposite the mounting end, the free end being disposed to engage a top sheet of a stack of sheets to be fed, and a spring arm portion disposed between the mounting end and the free end to urge the free end against the top sheet to force a loop or bow in the top sheet for separating the top sheet from the stack when the top is sheet removed from the stack wherein the spring nail is made from a material selected from the group consisting of music wire and spring wire.

A spring nail for a sheet feeding device, comprising:

• a mounting end for attaching to the sheet feeding device and a free end opposite the mounting end, the free end being disposed to engage a top sheet of a stack of sheets to be fed, and a spring arm portion disposed between the mounting end and the free end to urge the free end against the top sheet to force a loop or bow in the top sheet for separating the top sheet from the stack when the top is sheet removed from the stack wherein the spring nail is molded of a plastics material.