Media loading and unloading onto a vacuum drum using lift fins

摘要

Apparatus for superposing a receiver sheet and a donor sheet on an imaging drum communicates vacuum from the interior of the drum to the exterior surface. A leading edge of a receiver sheet is advanced into alignment with a predetermined position on the drum surface while being held radially off of the drum surface. The drum is rotated to thereby draw the receiver sheet into contact with the drum surface. Next, a leading edge of a donor sheet is advanced into alignment with a predetermined position on the drum surface while being held radially off of the drum surface. The drum is again rotated to thereby draw the donor sheet into contact with the drum surface. The leading edge of the receiver sheet and the donor sheet are held radially off of the drum surface until aligned with the predetermined position, and thereupon is lowered radially onto the drum surface.