Pick-Off Mechanism - Ricoh FT5540 Service Manual

31 August 1989

7.5 PICK-OFF MECHANISM

Touch-and-Release Mechanism
The pick-off solenoid [A] energizes just after the registration rollers turn on. The pick-off lever
[B] rotates counterclockwise (rear view) and pushes the pawl shaft pin [C]. The pawl shaft [D]
then rotates clockwise and the pick-off pawls [E] touch the drum. The pawl springs [F] hold
the pick-off pawls on the shaft and prevent them from touching the drum too strongly.
When the leading edge of the paper passes the pick-off area and just before it reaches the
fusing unit, the pick-off solenoid turns off. The pick-off shaft spring [G] then rotates the
pick-off lever and moves the pick-off pawls away from the drum.
Side-to-Side Movement
The pick-off pawls do not always contact the drum in the same place but instead move slightly
to the side on each copy cycle.
The pick-off pawl shaft [H] and the cam rider [I] are joined by a one-way bearing [J]. Each
time the pick-off pawl solenoid turns on, the one-way bearing causes the cam rider to turn
together with the pick-off pawl shaft. As the cam rider turns, it and the pawl shaft are forced to
move laterally by a cam [K]. When the pawl shaft rotates the pawls away from the drum,
however, the cam rider does not turn.
Pawl lateral movement is 0.1 to 0.2 millimeter per copy cycle. After moving about 8
millimeters, the cam rider passes the lobe of the cam and the pawl shaft is returned to its start
position by the pawl shaft spring [G].
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