Method and apparatus for locating a moving sheet at a registration position

摘要

A method and apparatus for locating sheets moving in a path at a registration position in the path. The sheets, moving seriatim in a path established by a guide and a platen of a reproduction apparatus, are pinched against the platen to decelerate the sheets as they approach the registration position for copying. The pinching action is accomplished by deflecting a resilient member into the path into juxtaposition with the platen. The member covers an opening in the guide and is deflected by a mechanism extensible through the opening. In its deflected position, the member exerts a deceleration force on the sheet to retard the sheet as it approaches the registration position. The deceleration force has a component that is substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet and a component that is substantially normal to the surface and of greater magnitude than the parallel component. The deflected member is configured relative to the path such that the magnitudes of the components increase as the sheet approaches the registration position. Since the member covers the opening in the guide, it serves to optically mask the opening during the copying of the sheet at the registration position.