An apparatus for recording an image onto a sheet medium (12) has an entrance nip (14) for transporting the sheet medium (12) into an image recording section (20). A write head (56) records onto a portion of the sheet medium (12) between the entrance nip (14) and exit nip (24). The exit nip (24) is formed by a drive roller (26) paired with a corresponding exit pressure roller (28). A motor (60) provides rotary motion to either the entrance drive roller (16) or the exit drive roller (26). A coupling apparatus (54) has a coupling roller (36) and a loading mechanism providing a loading force to nest the coupling roller (36) into continuous rotational contact against the entrance and exit drive rollers (16,26), whereby rotation is transferred between the exit drive roller (26) and the entrance drive roller (16).