Sheet feed mechanism with control for advancement and retraction of paper

摘要

A sheet feed mechanism for an electrophotographic printer employing continuous fan-fold paper may be controlled between multiple operational modes. Following image formation on each page, the sheet feed may be stopped or advanced and then stopped. A desired mode is selected depending on whether the user desires to print more than one page successively or to separate printed pages. The sheet feed mechanism ensures that the printer does not needlessly advance the continuous sheet when there are pauses in data transmission or other pauses.