Abstract: A sheet handling device for wide format sheets comprising a sheet support plate having a top surface containing suction holes which are connected to at least one suction chamber, said at least one suction chamber being divided into compartments that are connected, though an opening, to a suction device adapted to create a subatmospheric pressure in the compartments, wherein at least one internal wall between adjacent ones of said compartments defines a flow restriction orifice, and at least one of said compartments is directly connected to the suction device, and at least another one of the compartments is indirectly connected to the suction device through the orifice.

Abstract: An ink jet printer including: a sheet support plate having suction holes formed in a sheet support surface thereof; a sheet advance mechanism adapted to advance a sheet step-wise in a sheet advance direction over the sheet support surface; and an imaging system adapted to form an image by depositing liquid ink on the sheet, the ink being allowed to dry-out while the sheet is advanced over the sheet support plate, wherein the suction holes are arranged such that their influence on the ink drying process is essentially uniform over the whole area of the image.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a sheet support plate of a printer which has at least two power supplies for powering different sub-systems of the printer, the temperature control system containing at least one heater and a power management system adapted to use spare power capacities of the two power supplies by controlling the power supplied to said at least one heater in accordance with the load conditions of said power supplies.

Abstract: A sheet handling device including a sheet support plate made of a heat conductive material having a first heat capacity, said plate having at least one cavity formed between a top wall defining a top surface of the plate and a bottom wall defining a bottom surface of the plate; and a temperature control system including a circulating system for circulating a temperature control fluid through said cavity, wherein in the cavity contains a displacement body which is spaced apart from said top and bottom walls and is made of a material having a heat capacity which is smaller than the heat capacity of the sheet support plate.

Abstract: A sheet handling device including a sheet support plate having at least one internal fluid cavity; and a temperature control system containing a temperature controller and a closed circulating system for circulating a temperature control liquid through the cavity and through the temperature controller, the circulating system including expansion means for at least partially absorbing expansion and contraction of the liquid, the expansion means provided with at least one hose connecting the cavity and the temperature controller and adapted to flexibly expand and contract with the temperature control liquid.

Abstract: A sheet handling device containing a sheet support element having a surface provided with suction holes which are connected to at least one suction chamber, the suction chamber being connected to a suction device adapted to create a subatmospheric pressure in the suction chamber, and a flow obstructing material arranged to obstruct an air flow from at least a subset of the suction holes into the suction chamber.