Abstract: An air knife assembly is provided to jet an air current to control the landing of sheet of print media during transfer between two adjacent conveyors in a printer. The air knife forming unit is configured for jetting an air curtain formed such that said air curtain and air currents resulting from it flow substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the conveyors. Thereby, lifting and consequently wrinkling of the leading edge during transfer and landing may be avoided.

Abstract: A deflecting device for deflecting a conveyed sheet includes a guiding assembly having an inlet for receiving a conveyed sheet front an upstream section of a main conveying path, a primary outlet for discharging a conveyed sheet onto a downstream section of a main conveying path, a secondary outlet for discharging a conveyed sheet onto an initial section of a side conveying path, and a passing area for passing a conveyed sheet from the inlet towards the primary outlet; and a deflector for deflecting a conveyed sheet towards the secondary outlet, movable into a receiving position for receiving a leading edge of a conveyed sheet inside the passing area and movable into a discharge position for discharging a leading edge of a conveyed sheet towards the secondary outlet, wherein the deflector defines a curved trajectory for a conveyed sheet deflected towards the secondary outlet in the discharge position, wherein one side of the curved trajectory faces the primary outlet.

Abstract: An air knife assembly is provided to jet an air current to control the landing of sheet of print media during transfer between two adjacent conveyors in a printer. The air knife forming unit is configured for jetting an air curtain formed such that said air curtain and air currents resulting from it flow substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the conveyors. Thereby, lifting and consequently wrinkling of the leading edge during transfer and landing may be avoided.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

Abstract: A deflecting device for deflecting a conveyed sheet includes a guiding assembly having an inlet for receiving a conveyed sheet front an upstream section of a main conveying path, a primary outlet for discharging a conveyed sheet onto a downstream section of a main conveying path, a secondary outlet for discharging a conveyed sheet onto an initial section of a side conveying path, and a passing area for passing a conveyed sheet from the inlet towards the primary outlet; and a deflector for deflecting a conveyed sheet towards the secondary outlet, movable into a receiving position for receiving a leading edge of a conveyed sheet inside the passing area and movable into a discharge position for discharging a leading edge of a conveyed sheet towards the secondary outlet, wherein the deflector defines a curved trajectory for a conveyed sheet deflected towards the secondary outlet in the discharge position, wherein one side of the curved trajectory faces the primary outlet.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

Abstract: A method for printing on a plurality of sheets includes the steps of: arranging the plurality of sheets on a support surface of an endless conveyor, the plurality of sheets including a first sheet and a second sheet being arranged at a sheet-to-sheet distance between one another; advancing the plurality of sheets on the support surface in a conveying direction along a print head assembly for applying droplets of ink on the sheets; providing a suction force through perforations arranged in the support surface for holding the plurality of sheets on the support surface, wherein the suction force provides an air flow through uncovered perforations present in the sheet-to-sheet distance in a print region between the print head assembly and the support surface; and forming an image by the print head assembly on each of the plurality of sheets supported on the support surface of the conveyor by applying droplets of ink.

Abstract: A method for printing on a plurality of sheets includes the steps of: arranging the plurality of sheets on a support surface of an endless conveyor, the plurality of sheets including a first sheet and a second sheet being arranged at a sheet-to-sheet distance between one another; advancing the plurality of sheets on the support surface in a conveying direction along a print head assembly for applying droplets of ink on the sheets; providing a suction force through perforations arranged in the support surface for holding the plurality of sheets on the support surface, wherein the suction force provides an air flow through uncovered perforations present in the sheet-to-sheet distance in a print region between the print head assembly and the support surface; and forming an image by the print head assembly on each of the plurality of sheets supported on the support surface of the conveyor by applying droplets of ink.

Abstract: A sheet transfer assembly is provided for transferring a sheet from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The receiving conveyor includes a transport belt having a support surface for supporting the sheet on a contact side of the sheet. The supplying conveyor is arranged for advancing the sheet in a transport direction towards the receiving conveyor. The sheet transfer assembly includes a sheet guidance element arranged downstream of the supplying conveyor in the transport direction for guiding the sheet towards the receiving conveyor, the sheet guidance element includes a guidance surface for supporting the sheet at its contact side; wherein the guidance surface includes two guide faces.

Abstract: A transport mechanism and method are provided for transporting sheets of a print medium in a printing system. The transport mechanism includes a first conveyor device having a first conveyor body configured to hold a plurality of sheets of print medium and to convey the sheets along the transport path, and a transfer system including a second conveyor device having a second conveyor body configured to hold the sheets and to convey the sheets further along the transport path. The transfer system is configured to transfer the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body in a transfer region. The second conveyor body is adjacent the first conveyor body in the transfer region, and the transfer system includes a suction device configured to provide an under-pressure at the second conveyor body for contactless transfer of the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body.

Abstract: A method for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method includes arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor, advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which applies a process to a process side of the sheet opposite to the contact side, and to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor. To correct for curl deformation of the sheet, air flow is directed onto the process side of sheet, which urges the sheet towards a supporting element. The air flow is controlled in response to a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling media sheets in a printer includes a number of cooling units, a conveyor having a first conveyor path adapted to feed the media sheets successively through the cooling units, and a switch adapted to deflect selected ones of the media sheets into a second conveyor path. The switch is disposed upstream of a last one of the cooling units and downstream of a first one of the cooling units. The second conveyor path bypasses the last one of the cooling units. The conveyor includes a decelerating mechanism configured to decelerate the sheets in the first conveyor path between the first one of the cooling units and the last one of the cooling units.

Abstract: A method is provided for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor; advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which is arranged for applying a process to a process side of the sheet, the process side being opposite to the contact side, to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor; controlling an air flow directed onto the process side of sheet for urging the sheet towards a supporting element, which supports the sheet during transport in the transfer area, thereby correcting a curl deformation of the sheet. The air flow is controlled in response to at least one sheet attribute comprising a media characteristic of the sheet, wherein said media characteristic defines a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source.

Abstract: A transport mechanism is provided for transporting sheets of a print medium in a printing system. The transport mechanism includes a first conveyor device having a first conveyor body which is configured to hold a plurality of sheets of print medium and is movable to convey the sheets along the transport path; and a transfer system including a second conveyor device having a second conveyor body which is configured to hold the sheets and is movable to convey the sheets further along the transport path. The transfer system is configured to transfer the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body in a transfer region. The second conveyor body is arranged adjacent the first conveyor body in the transfer region, and the transfer system includes a suction device configured to provide an under-pressure at the second conveyor body for contactless transfer of the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling media sheets in a printer includes a number of cooling units, a conveyor having a first conveyor path adapted to feed the media sheets successively through the cooling units, and a switch adapted to deflect selected ones of the media sheets into a second conveyor path. The switch is disposed upstream of a last one of the cooling units and downstream of a first one of the cooling units. The second conveyor path bypasses the last one of the cooling units. The conveyor includes a decelerating mechanism configured to decelerate the sheets in the first conveyor path between the first one of the cooling units and the last one of the cooling units.

Abstract: An inkjet marking module includes an inkjet marking device adapted to jet droplets of an inkjet marking material to form an image on recording substrate; and an evaporation device arranged for evaporating a solvent to a gaseous medium. The evaporation device includes an aerosol generator for creating an aerosol of the solvent in the gaseous medium; and a droplet eliminator for removing droplets from the aerosol, the droplet eliminator being arranged downstream of the aerosol generator. A printing system includes such an inkjet marking module and a method is disclosed for controlling the relative degree of saturation of a solvent vapor in a gaseous medium in an inkjet marking module.

Abstract: An inkjet marking module includes an inkjet marking device adapted to jet droplets of an inkjet marking material to form an image on recording substrate; and an evaporation device arranged for evaporating a solvent to a gaseous medium. The evaporation device includes an aerosol generator for creating an aerosol of the solvent in the gaseous medium; and a droplet eliminator for removing droplets from the aerosol, the droplet eliminator being arranged downstream of the aerosol generator. A printing system includes such an inkjet marking module and a method is disclosed for controlling the relative degree of saturation of a solvent vapor in a gaseous medium in an inkjet marking module.

Abstract: An image reproduction device for document processing has a nominal processing speed at which it can process sheets continuously at a nominal document quality. However, the image reproduction device is arranged to process sheets at a continuously variable processing speed including the nominal processing speed. The actual processing speed is selected in dependence on operational conditions. In particular, the device is arranged to gradually adjust the processing speed from one processing speed to another processing speed. A control structure is given to select the variable processing speed in dependence on operational conditions, and to operate the image reproduction device at the selected processing speed. In a particular application of the variable speed, a print job may be started at an increased processing speed and then gradually fall back to the nominal speed, giving a fast start and a shorter processing time for short print jobs.