Abstract: An image output device includes a marking engine and a media path adjacent the marking engine. The media path has a media transportation direction and a media transport element (e.g., a nip drive, a belt drive, a suction drive, an air pressure drive, etc.) within the media path that moves the media along the media path in the media transportation direction. A drive motor is operatively connected to the media transport element. The drive motor provides drive force in a forward direction that causes the media transport element to move media along the media path in the media transportation direction. The drive motor can also provide the drive force in a reverse direction opposite the forward direction. A one-way drive transfer device (e.g., a one-way clutch, a one-way swing arm mechanism, etc.) is operatively connected to the drive motor. The one-way drive transfer device only transfers drive force from the drive motor when the drive motor operates in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An air bearing sheet heater assembly provided for heating a sheet in an ink imaging printer includes (a) a heater plate including a heating element, and having a front side defining a first side of a sheet path through the heater assembly; (b) at least one movable platelet having a back surface, and an opposite front surface facing the heater plate and defining a second side of the sheet path; and (c) an air bearing assembly mounted to the at least one platelet for creating an air bearing between the second side and the first side of the sheet path by pneumatically spacing the front surface of the at least one movable platelet from the front side of the heater plate, thereby reducing stiction forces and friction along the sheet path through The air bearing sheet heater assembly.