Abstract:
An ultra-high resolution capacitive sensor affixed above an imaging member surface measures the thickness of fountain solution on the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The sensor is considered ultra-high resolution with a resolution high enough to detect nanometer scale thicknesses. The capacitive sensor would initially be zeroed to the imaging member surface. As fluid is added, the capacitive sensor detects the increase and can measure and communicate with the image forming device to adjust fountain solution flow rate to the imaging member surface and correct for any anomalies in thickness. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated. The capacitive sensor may have a resolution (e.g., as low as about 1 nm resolution) of about 0.001% of the distance/gap that the capacitive sensor is mounted away from the imaging member surface.
Abstract:
A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device comprises a movable support surface to transport a print medium along a process direction through the deposition region, the media transport device holding the print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction. The air flow control system is arranged to selectively flow air through the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead based on a location of a print medium transported by the media transport device relative to the printhead.
Abstract:
A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid through an opening of a carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system is to flow air through the carrier plate to the movable support surface via a port through the carrier plate on an inboard side the carrier plate and to control a flow rate of the air flowed through the port based on a size of a print medium transported by the media transport device.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for improving stack integrity for a set of image receiving media substrates at an output of a compiler in an image forming device by positioning a particularly configured substrate handling device downstream of the output of the compiler in a process direction. The substrate handling device is configured of a plurality of omni-directional wheeled devices that provide drive (traction) normal to a motor axis under control of one of a respective plurality of independent motors while allowing sliding in the motor axis direction. The omni-directional wheeled devices, in one embodiment, are configured with small roller wheels along the periphery of the wheel. When using three or more omni-directional wheeled devices, translational movement can be combined with rotation to deliver sheets of image receiving media exiting the compiler at a correct angle and lateral position for further processing.