Shuttling media movement system for hardcopy devices

Abstract

A shuttling media movement system moves media in a hardcopy device, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, a facsimile machine or a multi-function device. The shuttling media movement system has a first member with a first set of fingers for periodically supporting the media, and a second member having a second set of fingers for periodically supporting the media. A motor drive is coupled to the second member to periodically interleave the second set of fingers into and out of engagement with the first set of fingers to move the media with respect to the first member in the interaction zone. Vacuum forces or electrostatic forces are used to periodically grip the media against the sets of fingers. A hardcopy device is provided with such a shuttling media movement system, along with a method for moving media in an interaction zone of a hardcopy device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.