Abstract: A sheet registration device for receiving a sheet from a sheet input and delivering the sheet to a sheet output, while laterally aligning the sheet prior to delivery to the sheet output, includes an endless belt conveyor which extends between the sheet input and the sheet output, and an alignment surface extending generally parallel to and to one side of the conveyor. An alignment arrangement, including a plurality of parallel vacuum belts and a cooperating plenum, is positioned adjacent the conveyor and is skewed with respect to the conveyor. The alignment arrangement engages a sheet as it is carried by the conveyor and transports the sheet laterally such that a lateral edge of the sheet contacts the alignment surface. The vacuum belts define relatively large openings through which the partial vacuum from the plenum is applied, such that the vacuum belts effectively engage a sheet only during periods in which substantially all of the openings are covered by the sheet.

Abstract: An ink drop printing system for use as part of a duplicator. Sheets which are to be printed by the printing system are fed from one or another of two separate paper supplies and delivered along downwardly converging delivery paths toward a common reception point on a printing transport. The printing transport carries the sheets along a printing path which is angled upwardly and folded back from the delivery paths toward the common reception point. While the sheets are carried upwardly by the printing transport, they are printed by a plurality of inclined, angularly extending, and cooperatively operated jet drop printing heads.