| 摘要 |
A sheet material feed roller assembly including a feed roller mounted for contact with a stack of sheet material is disclosed. A variable load motor is provided that is adapted and constructed to cause the feed roller to apply a variable normal force to a top sheet of the stack of sheet material. A force transfer linkage is mounted between the feed roller and the torque load motor. The force transfer linkage is adapted and constructed to transfer force from the torque load motor to the feed roller. The transfer linkage can be provided as an elongate arm member including a first end upon which the feed roller is mounted, and a second, opposite end upon which the load motor is mounted. In an embodiment, the elongate arm member has a length of approximately 60 mm. A computer-controlled variable power source can be connected to the load motor, and an encoder can be connected between the power source and the motor. The motor can be provided as a stepper motor or a DC motor. The feed roller can be provided as a gear wheel. A method of torque loading a sheet material feed roller in an imaging apparatus including a sheet material feed mechanism is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a feed roller mounted for contact with a stack of sheet material, and providing a variable torque load motor adapted and constructed to cause the feed roller to selectively apply a normal force to a top sheet of the stack of sheet material. The torque load motor is then actuated to cause the feed roller to selectively apply a normal force to a top sheet of the stack of sheet material.
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