# US 10,369,808 B2 · Inkjet printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,808 B2 - Document ID: US10369808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/765,768 - Filed: 2016-10-07 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-08 - Assignees: Aleph S.R.L. - Applicants: Aleph S.R.L. - Inventors: Roberto Manes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369808B2 ## CPC - B41J 3/4078: {Printing on textile} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 11/0025: {Handling copy materials differing in width} - B41J 11/0085: {Using suction for maintaining printing material flat (on rotatable drums B41J13/226)} - B41J 11/06: Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)} - B41J 15/048: {Conveyor belts or like feeding devices (B41J11/007 takes precedence)} - D06P 5/30: Ink jet printing - B41J 11/0055: {Lateral guides, e.g. guides for preventing skewed conveyance of printing material} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - D06P: DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM ## Abstract Inkjet printer (1) operable to print a print substrate made of textile, paper or plastic material, or the like, and provided with a sliding transfer surface (10) to feed the print substrate (2) in a feed direction (9); a printing device (17) arranged above the transfer surface (10) to define, on the transfer surface (10), a printing station (19); suction means (20) arranged below the transfer surface (10) to maintain the print substrate adhering to and stationary with respect to the transfer surface (10) during sliding; and an adjustment assembly to adjust planarity of the transfer surface (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Inkjet printer (1) operable to print a print substrate (2) made of textile, paper or plastic material, or the like; the inkjet printer (1) comprises a sliding transfer surface (10) to feed the print substrate (2) in a feed direction (9); a printing device (17) arranged above the transfer surface (10) to define, on the transfer surface (10), a printing station (19); suction means (20) arranged below the transfer surface (10) to maintain the print substrate (2) adhering to and stationary with respect to the transfer surface (10) during sliding; the inkjet printer (1) is characterised in that it comprises an adjustment unit (39) to adjust planarity of the transfer surface (10), wherein the suction means (20) comprise at least one tank (22) having a suction opening coupled to a lower surface of the transfer surface (10); the adjustment unit (39) comprises at least one adjusting device (34) arranged in the tank (22). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 1 wherein the suction opening is engaged by a suction plate (31, 33) arranged in contact with the lower surface of the transfer surface (10); the adjusting device (34) is configured to correct any bending of the suction plate (31, 33) that may be caused by the suction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting device (34) comprises wedge means (36, 37) arranged in the tank (22) and operable to move the suction surface (31, 33), together with the transfer surface (10), in a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface (10). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 3, wherein the wedge means (36, 37) comprise at least a fixed member (37) having an inclined surface, and at least a movable member (36) coupled to the inclined surface of the fixed member (37) so that a movement of the movable member (36) parallel to the transfer surface (10) results in a movement of the fixed member (37), together with the suction plate (31, 33), in a direction perpendicular to the transfer surface (10). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 4, wherein the movable member (37) comprises a nut engaged by screw means (35). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the transfer surface (10) upstream from the printing station (19) defines a stabilising portion (21) for the print substrate (2); the suction means (20) define at least two suction compartments, which are defined by respective tanks (22), one of which is arranged at the printing station (19) and at least other one is arranged at the stabilising portion (21); the adjustment assembly (39) comprises an adjusting device (34) for each tank (22) or at least for the tank (22) arranged at the stabilising portion (21). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 6, wherein the suction means (20) are configured to differentiate suction in the feed direction (9) to result in the suction at the printing station (19) being lower than the suction at the stabilising portion (21). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 7, wherein the suction means (20) are configured to independently control suction force at the printing station (19) and at the stabilising portion (21). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 8, wherein each suction compartment is connected to a respective suction source; and wherein suction force is controlled by adjusting suction power of each suction source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) Inkjet printer (1) according to claim 7, wherein the suction means (20) are configured to result, on the stabilising portion (21), in a succession of suction areas with suction forces decreasing in the feed direction (9).