INK STORAGE APPARATUS FOR A PRINTING SYSTEM

An ink storage apparatus and an agitator device in a printing system having at least one agitator member rotatable about an axis, wherein the agitator member includes a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a primary plane of the agitator member. The agitator member includes a paddle element having a generally planar rectangular configuration, and a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a plane of the paddle element. The ink storage apparatus has at least one ink container defining a storage volume for holding a predetermined volume of printing ink, and the agitator device is arranged within the storage volume of the ink container for agitating the ink.

Reproduction apparatus for printing on sheets

A reproduction apparatus includes a print unit with print elements for ejecting an amount of ink on a plurality of sheets, of which each size in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the sheets under the print unit is smaller than the size of the print unit in the same direction, and a displacing mechanism for displacing the sheets in the same direction. The displacement of the displacing mechanism is so extreme that an alignment of a sheet is variable from an alignment of one side of the sheet with one end of the print unit to an alignment of the other side of the sheet with the other end of the print unit. Also a method for application by such a reproduction apparatus is disclosed.

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS WITH ROTARY DRUM

A sheet handling apparatus for a printing system includes a rotary drum having an inner chamber circumferentially surrounded by an outer peripheral wall with perforations formed therein. By means of sucking an air flow through the perforations of the drum to a suction system, sheets are attracted to the peripheral wall of the drum. A stationary shutter member is positioned inside the inner chamber for blocking the flow of air through the perforations when they pass, with the rotation of the drum, through a first predetermined angular range. The shutter member includes protrusions while the rotary drum includes recesses for receiving the protrusions, such that a meandering air flow passage is formed between the shutter member and the rotary drum. As such, friction between the rotary drum and the stationary shutter member is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the suction system. 1. A sheet handling apparatus comprising:a rotary drum having an inner chamber circumferentially surrounded by an outer peripheral wall with perforations formed therein;a suction system for controlling a flow of air through the perforations of the drum, thereby to attract sheets to the peripheral wall of the drum; anda shutter member positioned inside the inner chamber for blocking the flow of air through the perforations when they pass, with the rotation of the drum, through a first predetermined angular range,wherein the radially outward surface of the shutter member comprises a plurality of protrusions and a radially inward surface of the rotary drum comprises plurality of recesses for receiving the protrusions, such that a meandering air flow passage is formed between the shutter member and the rotary drum.2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the meandering air flow passage forms an air flow resistance element to prevent substantial amounts of air from flowing from inside the shutter member into the inner chamber of the rotary drum.3. The apparatus according to ...

CONVEYOR MECHANISM AND A METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A CONVEYOR MECHANISM

The present invention provides a conveyor mechanism for conveying sheets. The conveyor mechanism comprises a movable conveyor body, a drive mechanism, and an adjustment system configured to detect and correct skewing of the conveyor body, comprising one or more markers provided on or in the conveyor body, a sensor arrangement for detecting each marker at two or more discrete positions, and a processor to determine the skewing of the conveyor body. The conveyor body and the drive mechanism of the conveyor mechanism are mounted on a movable conveyor frame, and the adjustment system includes a frame shifting device comprising one or one or more actuator for shifting or moving the conveyor frame relative to a fixed framework. The invention also provides a related method of correcting skewing in a conveyor mechanism for conveying sheets along a transport path. 1. A conveyor mechanism for conveying sheets along a transport path , such as sheets of a print medium in a printing system , one or more markers provided on or in the conveyor body;', 'a sensor arrangement for detecting each marker at two or more discrete positions spaced apart from one another by a predefined distance along the transport path; and', 'a processor for processing data or signals provided or generated by the sensor arrangement to determine the skewing of the conveyor body as it conveys the sheets along the transport path,, 'wherein the conveyor mechanism comprises a movable conveyor body configured to hold a plurality of sheets, such that movement of the conveyor body conveys the sheets along the transport path, and a drive mechanism which supports, and drives the movement of, the conveyor body to convey the sheets along the transport path, the conveyor mechanism further comprising an adjustment system configured to detect and correct skewing of the conveyor body as it conveys the sheets along the transport path, the adjustment system comprisingwherein the conveyor body and the drive mechanism of the ...

CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A CONVEYOR MECHANISM AND A METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A CONVEYOR MECHANISM

The present invention provides a calibration system, comprising a movable conveyor body configured to hold a plurality of sheets, and a drive mechanism which supports and/or drives the movement of the conveyor body to convey the sheets along a transport path. The calibration system is adapted or configured to detect a position and/or a speed of the conveyor body as it conveys the sheets, the calibration system comprising one or more markers which are provided on or in the conveyor body and a sensor arrangement for detecting each marker at two or more discrete positions spaced apart from one another. The markers are distributed along and fixed with respect to the conveyor body, wherein each marker is uniquely identifiable or distinguishable by the sensor arrangement. The present invention also provides an associated method of calibrating a sheet conveyor mechanism. 1. A calibration system for calibrating a conveyor mechanism which conveys sheets along a transport path , such as sheets of a print medium in a printing system , for synchronisation with a device for processing the sheets on the conveyor mechanism , wherein the conveyor mechanism comprises a movable conveyor body configured to hold a plurality of sheets , such that movement of the conveyor body conveys the sheets along the transport path , and a drive mechanism which supports and/or drives the movement of the conveyor body to convey the sheets along the transport path;wherein the calibration system is configured to detect a position, a speed and/or skewing of the conveyor body as it conveys the sheets along the transport path, the calibration system comprising one or more markers which are provided on or in the conveyor body and a sensor arrangement for detecting each marker at two or more discrete positions spaced apart from one another by a predefined distance along the transport path,wherein a plurality of markers which are distributed or spaced apart along a length or extent of the conveyor body, ...

Sheet conveyor for a printer comprising pressing means for flattening a sheet

The present invention seeks to flatten a sheet when transferred onto an endless belt conveyor facing a print head assembly in a simple and/or low costs manner. Thereto a sheet conveyor is provided comprising an endless, air permeable belt and pressing means. The pressing means comprise a plurality of pressing members spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the belt, each pressing member comprising a body which body is moveable in a perpendicular direction with respect to the belt as well rotatable or pivotable around an axis in the perpendicular direction independent of the corresponding bodies of other pressing members. This provides a simple and passive sheet flattening means, resulting in low operational and material costs.

Reproduction apparatus for printing on sheets

Reproduction apparatus for printing on sheets

A reproduction apparatus includes a print unit with print elements for ejecting an amount of ink on a plurality of sheets, of which each size in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the sheets under the print unit is smaller than the size of the print unit in the same direction, and a displacing mechanism for displacing the sheets in the same direction. The displacement of the displacing mechanism is so extreme that an alignment of a sheet is variable from an alignment of one side of the sheet with one end of the print unit to an alignment of the other side of the sheet with the other end of the print unit. Also a method for application by such a reproduction apparatus is disclosed.

A dryer for an inkjet printer

A dryer for an inkjet printer

The present invention relates to an air impingement module for an inkjet printer. The air impingement module for an inkjet printer comprises a plate for creating an array of air beams comprising a plurality of impingement holes. Further, the air impingement module for an inkjet printer comprises a width adjustment arrangement for blocking the array of air beams of the air impingement modules in a direction (z) substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of a printing substrate (y) and substantially perpendicular to the normal to the plane of the surface of a printing substrate (x) which is also the impingement direction, such that the array of air beams are restricted to a particular width, and such that directions x, y, and z form a substantially orthogonal axes system.

A sheet conveyor for a printer comprising pressing means for flattening a sheet

Sheet conveyor for a printer comprising pressing means for flattening a sheet

The present invention seeks to flatten a sheet when transferred onto an endless belt conveyor facing a print head assembly in a simple and/or low costs manner. Thereto a sheet conveyor is provided comprising an endless, air permeable belt and pressing means. The pressing means comprise a plurality of pressing members spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the belt, each pressing member comprising a body which body is moveable in a perpendicular direction with respect to the belt as well rotatable or pivotable around an axis in the perpendicular direction independent of the corresponding bodies of other pressing members. This provides a simple and passive sheet flattening means, resulting in low operational and material costs.

Conveyor mechanism and a method for adjusting a conveyor mechanism

The present invention provides a conveyor mechanism for conveying sheets. The conveyor mechanism comprises a movable conveyor body, a drive mechanism, and an adjustment system configured to detect and correct skewing of the conveyor body, comprising one or more markers provided on or in the conveyor body, a sensor arrangement for detecting each marker at two or more discrete positions, and a processor to determine the skewing of the conveyor body. The conveyor body and the drive mechanism of the conveyor mechanism are mounted on a movable conveyor frame, and the adjustment system includes a frame shifting device comprising one or one or more actuator for shifting or moving the conveyor frame relative to a fixed framework. The invention also provides a related method of correcting skewing in a conveyor mechanism for conveying sheets along a transport path.

Ink storage apparatus having an agitator for a printing system

An ink storage apparatus and an agitator device in a printing system having at least one agitator member rotatable about an axis, wherein the agitator member includes a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a primary plane of the agitator member. The agitator member includes a paddle element having a generally planar rectangular configuration, and a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a plane of the paddle element. The ink storage apparatus has at least one ink container defining a storage volume for holding a predetermined volume of printing ink, and the agitator device is arranged within the storage volume of the ink container for agitating the ink.