Damped sheet feeding device and method for an electrophotographic apparatus

摘要

A sheet feeding device that uses an air damper for absorbing vibrations when a pick up roller contacts the tray and supported stack of paper. The air damper has a circular tube that has an opening formed in the base of the frame. A piston is then connected to the bottom surface of a tray that is supported in the frame. The piston is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tray and protrudes into the circular tube. A plunger is attached to the free end of the piston and maintains contact with the inner surface of the circular tube. The air damper reduces the amount of acceleration that the tray undergoes when the tray is free to move towards the pick up roller of the electrophotographic device.