Spring-assisted print media feeder apparatus

A print media feeder apparatus suitable for use in an image forming device, the print media feeder apparatus comprising:

• an elevator tray assembly holding a stack of print media, the elevator tray assembly being movable in a vertical direction in response to a change in the load of the stack of print media ensuring proper alignment of the stack of print media;
• a housing connected to the elevator tray assembly, the housing comprising:
• a. a spring storing the load of the elevator tray assembly as potential energy, the spring vertically moving the elevator tray assembly while storing and releasing the potential energy;
• b. a hoist drum fixed to one portion of a shaft;
• and
• c. a spring enclosure fixed to the another portion of the shaft, the spring enclosure encasing the spring for preventing deformation of the spring;
• a transmission system connecting the elevator tray assembly to the housing, wherein the transmission system transmits the load of the elevator tray assembly to the housing;
• and
• a motor coupled to the housing for driving the print media feeder apparatus by displacing the spring, wherein the displacement of the spring controls the vertical movement of the elevator tray assembly.

A printer, comprising:

• a print media feeder apparatus comprising:
• an elevator tray assembly holding a stack of print media, the elevator tray assembly being movable in a vertical direction in response to a change in the load of the stack of print media ensuring proper alignment of the stack of print media;
• a housing connected to the elevator tray assembly, the housing comprising:
• a. a spring storing the load of the elevator tray assembly as potential energy, the spring vertically moving the elevator tray assembly while storing and releasing the potential energy;
• b. a hoist drum fixed to one portion of a shaft;
• and
• c. a spring enclosure fixed to the another portion of the shaft, the spring enclosure encasing the spring for preventing deformation of the spring;
• a transmission system connecting the elevator tray assembly to the housing, wherein the transmission system transmits the load of the elevator tray assembly to the housing;
• and
• a motor for driving the print media feeder apparatus by displacing the spring.

A print media feeder apparatus suitable for use in an image forming device, the print media feeder apparatus comprising:

• an elevator tray assembly holding a stack of print media, the elevator tray assembly being movable in a vertical direction in response to a change in the load of the stack of print media ensuring proper alignment of the stack of print media;
• a housing connected to the elevator tray assembly, the housing comprising:
• a. a spring storing the load of the elevator tray assembly as potential energy, the spring being positioned above the elevator tray assembly and vertically moving the elevator tray assembly while storing and releasing the potential energy;
• b. a hoist drum fixed to one portion of a shaft;
• and
• c. a spring enclosure fixed to another portion of the shaft, the spring enclosure encasing the spring for preventing deformation of the spring, wherein one end of the spring is attached to the housing and the other end of the spring is attached to the spring enclosure and one end of the shaft is rotatably attached to the housing;
• and
• a transmission system connecting the elevator tray assembly to the housing, wherein the transmission system transmits the load of the elevator tray assembly to the housing.