Abstract: A low cost and low air resistance belt support structure for an endless belt conveyor of an inkjet printer can be achieved with the belt support structure being provided over a suction chamber. The belt support structure includes a plurality of longitudinal, narrow support beams positioned spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another in a transport direction of the belt to define a flat support plane for the belt. The support beams provides a relatively small contact area with the belt, which results in low friction The support beams further allow for a relatively large open area between them to achieve a low air resistance.

Abstract: An ink supply system for supplying ink to a drop-forming unit of a print-head in a printing apparatus includes a reservoir for holding or storing a volume of liquid ink to be supplied to a drop-forming unit in a print-head, and a heating device arranged upstream of the reservoir for heating the ink to an desired operating temperature. The heating device includes a heating body for transferring heat to the ink, wherein the heating body includes a plurality of channels which extend from an top side of the heating body to an bottom side of the heating body for conveying the ink to the reservoir, whereby the ink is heated via contact with walls of the channels. The heating body typically includes a substantially monolithic body of a highly thermally conductive material and the plurality of channels are substantially parallel channels which extend through the heating body. A print-head of a printing apparatus incorporating the ink supply system, and a heating device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink supply system for supplying ink to a drop-forming unit of a print-head in a printing apparatus includes a reservoir for holding or storing a volume of liquid ink to be supplied to a drop-forming unit in a print-head, and a heating device arranged upstream of the reservoir for heating the ink to an desired operating temperature. The heating device includes a heating body for transferring heat to the ink, wherein the heating body includes a plurality of channels which extend from an top side of the heating body to an bottom side of the heating body for conveying the ink to the reservoir, whereby the ink is heated via contact with walls of the channels. The heating body typically includes a substantially monolithic body of a highly thermally conductive material and the plurality of channels are substantially parallel channels which extend through the heating body. A print-head of a printing apparatus incorporating the ink supply system, and a heating device are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing system with an apparatus for defect detection comprising a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry or topology of a sheet and for generating data representative of that surface geometry or topology, a processor device for processing the data to detect and classify deformations, and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along the transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations detected and classified by the processor device. Furthermore, the invention provides a corresponding method of detecting defects in a printing system.

Abstract: A printing system comprising an apparatus for defect detection in a printing system. The printing system comprises, an image forming device, a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry of a sheet to be printed and for generating data representative of that surface geometry, a processor device for processing the data; and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along a transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations in the surface geometry of the sheet detected and classified by the processor device. The operating conditions the sheet is exposed to at the sensing unit are similar to the operating conditions the sheet is exposed at the image forming.

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 printing system includes an endless metal transport belt for transporting sheets in a transport direction, wherein the metal transport belt comprises multiple through holes through which an underpressure or overpressure may be applied on the sheets, a sheet separation system for separating the sheets from the metal transport belt by applying a local overpressure, and a sheet separation guide which guides the separated sheets away from the metal transport belt. The sheet separation system includes a stationary sliding surface, wherein the metal transport belt slides over the stationary sliding surface, wherein the stationary sliding surface includes a number of blow holes which define the overpressure zone, and wherein the blow holes are configured to apply a local overpressure in the overpressure zone through the metal transport belt onto the underside of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x? and extends in a second lateral direction z?, the second conveying direction x? and the second lateral direction z? defining a second conveying plane x?z?. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane x?z? that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x? and extends in a second lateral direction z?, the second conveying direction x? and the second lateral direction z? defining a second conveying plane x?z?. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane x?z? that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing system with an apparatus for defect detection comprising a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry or topology of a sheet and for generating data representative of that surface geometry or topology, a processor device for processing the data to detect and classify deformations, and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along the transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations detected and classified by the processor device. Furthermore, the invention provides a corresponding method of detecting defects in a printing system.

Abstract: A printing system comprising an apparatus for defect detection in a printing system. The printing system comprises, an image forming device, a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry of a sheet to be printed and for generating data representative of that surface geometry, a processor device for processing the data; and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along a transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations in the surface geometry of the sheet detected and classified by the processor device. The operating conditions the sheet is exposed to at the sensing unit are similar to the operating conditions the sheet is exposed at the image forming.

Abstract: A sheet transport system comprising an endless carrier belt that has a predetermined stiffness and is arranged to carry the sheets towards an end of a conveyer path where the sheet is separated from the carrier belt by passing this belt around a separating member that has a predetermined curvature, wherein the carrier belt runs in parallel with an endless conveyer that has a larger stiffness than the carrier belt and, at the end of the conveyer path, has a smaller curvature than the separating member.

Abstract: A sheet transport system comprising an endless carrier belt that has a predetermined stiffness and is arranged to carry the sheets towards an end of a conveyer path where the sheet is separated from the carrier belt by passing this belt around a separating member that has a predetermined curvature, wherein the carrier belt runs in parallel with an endless conveyer that has a larger stiffness than the carrier belt and, at the end of the conveyer path, has a smaller curvature than the separating member.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A printing system includes an endless metal transport belt for transporting sheets in a transport direction, wherein the metal transport belt comprises multiple through holes through which an underpressure or overpressure may be applied on the sheets, a sheet separation system for separating the sheets from the metal transport belt by applying a local overpressure, and a sheet separation guide which guides the separated sheets away from the metal transport belt. The sheet separation system includes a stationary sliding surface, wherein the metal transport belt slides over the stationary sliding surface, wherein the stationary sliding surface includes a number of blow holes which define the overpressure zone, and wherein the blow holes are configured to apply a local overpressure in the overpressure zone through the metal transport belt onto the underside of the sheets.