Apparatus for establishing a predetermined interface between a dielectric sheet and an electrographic process station

In an electrographic copier having a plurality of electrographic process stations for forming visible images on the surface of discrete dielectric sheets, apparatus for establishing a predetermined operative interface between a discrete dielectric sheet and an electrographic process station so that the function of such process station is uniformly applied to the surface of such dielectric sheet, said apparatus comprising:

• means for selectively supporting a discrete dielectric sheet a predetermined distance from a process station, said supporting means including a member having a sheet supporting surface mounted for movement along a path from a location remote from such process station to a location a predetermined distance from such process station and then away from such process station;
• means for moving the sheet supporting surface of said member along such path;
• means for guiding a dielectric sheet to said member upstream of such process station and away from said member downstream of such process station;
• means associated with said member for clamping the lead edge of a discrete dielectric sheet to said member;
• and
• means for tacking successive portions of the surface area of such discrete dielectric sheet, measured from such lead edge, to said sheet supporting surface of said member as such portions are moved with said supporting surface to such location a predetermined distance from such process station, whereby the function of said process station is uniformly applied to the surface of such sheet.