ACCESS TO LETTER PATH

A mechanism for freeing document jams in a machine that transports documents, the machine including a housing (15) having an interior portion and a pivotable cover (12) adapted to permit easy access to the interior portion of the machine housing, the cover pivoting from a closed and locked position to an open and locked position and being spring biased is described. The mechanism includes a handle (23) positioned on the cover; a biased rod member (16) having first and second end portions, the rod member being pivotable but otherwise held fixed in the cover and mechanically coupled to the handle; and a slotted cam follower surface (20) positioned on each opposite side of the housing, each surface having a bottom end portion (20A) and a top end portion, the first and second end portions of the rod coupled to each opposite side of the housing and adapted to follow the cam follower surfaces wherein the cover is positioned in the closed and locked position when the first and second end portions of the rod are positioned in the bottom end portion of the cam surface slot, and the cover is in an open and locked position when the first and second end portions of the rod are positioned in the top end portion of the cam surface slot.