Guideplate assembly having substrate velocity control arrangement thereon.

摘要

An imaging apparatus (I) having a drive roller (22) in an imaging zone (Z) includes a guideplate assembly (10) for controlling the velocity of a substrate. The assembly has a guideplate (12) with the inlet end (12I) thereof disposed adjacent to a dispensing magazine (32) and the outlet end (12E) disposed adjacent to the imaging zone. The guideplate assembly has a pushing finger movable therealong, a velocity-controlling sidewall (12V) and a spring-loaded biasing member disposed along opposed edges of the guideplate. The biasing member urges an edge of the substrate (S) into frictional contact against a portion of the sidewall directly opposite the member while the pushing finger simultaneously engages the substrate to propel the substrate at a predetermined controlled velocity toward the outlet end (12E) of the guideplate against the frictional force imposed on the substrate by the sidewall. The predetermined controlled velocity is at least ninety percent of the rotational speed of the drive roller. Upon engagement with an idler roller (30) in the imaging zone (Z) substantially no velocity perturbation is imparted to the substrate. <IMAGE>