Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus includes a rotatable hollow sheet transport drum with a plurality of openings extending therethrough, a vacuum supply for supplying a partial vacuum to the interior of the drum, a drive for rotating the drum, and a stationary deflection plate disposed adjacent the outer drum surface. A vacuum shield is mounted within the drum and is movable from a first position, remote from the inner wall of the drum, to a second position, adjacent the wall. The shield, when in its second position, prevents the partial vacuum from being applied to the leading portion of a sheet on the drum so as to permit the leading edge of the sheet to deflect outwardly from the drum and strike the deflection plate.

Abstract: A print system for duplex printing a plurality of document page images on a plurality of copy sheets includes means for storing print control information which defines the document images. An ink jet printer prints the page images on copy sheets as they are transported past a print station by a transport arrangement defining a closed sheet path. The sheet path is of sufficient length such that a number of copy sheets are transported simultaneously therethrough. A copy sheet inverter receives copy sheets sequentially from the sheet path after the sheets are printed on their first sides and returns them to the sheet path in an inverted orientation prior to printing on the second sides of the copy sheets.