Document pinch force control with soft pinch rollers and document pinch force control

摘要

An apparatus for providing pinch force control to an entrance transport element in a document handling system. The entrance transport element includes a drive roller element and a pinch roller element and a pinch force relief mechanism coupled to the pinch roller element. The pinch force relief mechanism is positionable between a pinch force mode and a non-pinch force mode. A control element is adapted to control actuation of the pinch force relief mechanism between the pinch force mode and the non-pinch force mode. When the control element places the pinch force relief mechanism in the pinch force mode, the pinch roller element is positioned such that a pinch force is exerted on a document. Conversely, when the control element places the pinch force relief mechanism in the non-pinch force mode, the pinch roller element is positioned such that a pinch force is prevented from being exerted on the document.