Method and apparatus for handling sheet materials

In an image-forming system, the combination comprising

• a cylindrical drum,
• means supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis,
• drive means arranged to rotate said drum,
• imaging means arranged to produce an image on said sheet material while said drum is rotating,
• drum positioning means responsive to the completion of said image arranged to interrupt the rotation of said drum and stop it in a predetermined rotary position,
• a supply spool having a roll of sheet material thereon,
• means rotatably supporting said spool within said drum,
• first and second rollers extending longitudinally of said drum,
• said sheet material extending from said spool between said first and second rollers, around the outer surface of said drum, and thence again between said first and second rollers,
• means responsive to completion of said image arranged to interrupt the rotation of said drum and stop it in a predetermined position,
• a drive motor,
• drive coupling means arranged to releasably couple said drive motor to said drum when said drum is in said predetermined position, said drive coupling means having first, second and third positions,
• ejection means responsive to said first position of said drive coupling means for driving said first roller in a first direction thereby to eject said sheet material from said drum,
• means for shearing said sheet material,
• retraction means responsive to said second position of said drive coupling means arranged to drive said first roller in a second direction thereby to withdraw the sheared end of said paper toward said drum, and
• means responsive to the third position of said drive coupling means arranged to disengage said drive motor from said drum to permit rotation of said drum by said drive means.

The method of handling sheet material in a drum-imaging process comprising the steps of

• providing a cylindrical drum having a longitudinal opening therein,
• positioning within said drum a supply of said sheet material,
• extending said sheet material through said opening, between a pair of rollers carried by said drum, around the outer surface of said drum, and thence again between said rollers,
• rotating said drum,
• producing an image on said sheet material on the surface of said drum while said drum is rotating,
• stopping said drum in a predetermined position,
• connecting sheet material drive means to said drum and transporting said sheet material along a path from the interior of said drum, around the outer surface of said drum and thence away from said drum,
• shearing said sheet material along a transverse path at a predetermined distance from said drum, and
• reversing the direction of said drive means and thereby withdrawing the sheared end of said material toward said drum.