Color printer with shuttle type paper drive and method

A paper drive sheet feeder system, comprising:

• a grit shaft extending substantially transverse of a paper travel direction and supported to be driven in bidirectional rotation;
• a first pinch roller supported for co-rotation with the grit shaft via biased engagement therebetween such that a first edge of a sheet of print media is engaged and moved therebetween;
• and
• a second pinch roller supported for co-rotation with the grit shaft via biased engagement therebetween such that a first edge of a sheet of print media is engaged and moved therebetween;
• wherein the grit shaft is driven in rotation in forward and reverse directions so as to form a bidirectional sheet advancement system which carries a sheet of print media in accurate forward and reverse engagement between the grit shaft and the pair of pinch rollers therebetween.

A method of printing on a sheet of print media, the method comprising:

• transferring a sheet of print media between a grit shaft and a pair of pressure rollers;
• developing a first color image plane on a photoconductor drum;
• transferring the first color image plane onto the sheet of print media by moving the sheet of print media between the grit shaft and the pair of pressure rollers such that the sheet of print media passes between the photoconductor drum and a transfer roller along a paper travel path;
• developing at least one successive color image plane on the photoconductor drum;
• transferring successive color image planes onto the sheet of print media by moving the sheet of print media with the grit shaft and the pressure rollers between the photoconductor drum and the transfer roller along the paper travel path;
• and
• fusing all transferred color image planes onto the sheet of print media by passing the sheet of print media through a fuser.