Blower roll to assist paper detack from vacuum transports
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRichard Campbell, Linn C. Hoover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roller for a transport belt of a vacuum transport assembly includes an elongate cylindrical body adapted for a rotatably fixed connection to a vacuum transport assembly. An outer surface of the roller defines a hollow inner channel, which extends along an axial region of the body. The outer surface is a running surface for a transport belt. An inlet at one end of the hollow inner channel receives air from an air source. Perforations are formed in the outer surface for allowing air pressure to be discharged from the hollow inner channel toward the transport belt. The air diffuses through the transport belt to detack a sheet from the transport belt.
Claims17
A roller for a transport belt of a vacuum transport assembly, the roller comprising:
- an elongate cylindrical body adapted for a rotatably fixed connection to the transport assembly, the roller body including:
- an outer surface defining a hollow inner channel, the hollow inner channel extending along an axial region of the body, the outer surface being a running surface for a transport belt;
- an air intake hole at one end of the hollow inner channel, the air intake hole for receiving air from an associated air source;
- perforations in the outer surface, the perforations allowing air pressure to be discharged from the hollow inner channel toward the transport belt, wherein the air diffuses through the transport belt to detack a sheet from the transport belt;
- and
- a baffle defined as a screen conforming to at least a circumferential portion of the outer surface of the body;
- wherein the baffle is slideable between at least two positions along a longitudinal length of the body.
A vacuum transport belt assembly, comprising:
- an endless transport belt made from a porous material for moving a sheet through an associated printer assembly;
- a vacuum plenum for applying vacuum pressure through the transport belt, the vacuum plenum for holding the sheet to the transport belt by a vacuum drawing air through the transport belt;
- and
- a blower roll and at least one other roll for supporting the transport belt over the vacuum plenum, the blower roll comprising:
- a hollow inner channel extending along an axial region of the blower roll;
- an outer surface being a running surface for the transport belt;
- an air intake hole at one end of the hollow inner channel, the air intake hole for receiving air from an air source;
- perforations in the blower roll, the perforations allowing air to be discharged from the hollow inner channel toward the transport belt, wherein the air diffuses through the transport belt to detack a sheet from the transport belt;
- a baffle defined as a screen conforming to at least a circumferential portion of the outer surface of the blower roll;
- wherein the baffle is slideable between at least two positions along a longitudinal length of the body to control an airflow toward the transport belt.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an endless transport belt for moving a sheet through the image forming apparatus;
- a vacuum plenum for applying vacuum pressure through the transport belt, the vacuum plenum for holding the sheet to the transport belt by a vacuum drawing air through the transport belt;
- and
- one of a drive and idle roller for supporting the transport belt over the vacuum plenum, the roller comprising:
- a hollow inner channel extending along an axial region of the roller;
- an outer surface being a running surface for the transport belt;
- a first end providing an air intake hole to the hollow inner channel, the air intake hole for receiving air from an air source;
- and,
- perforations formed through a drum wall in the roller, the perforations allowing air pressure to be discharged from the hollow inner channel toward the transport belt, wherein the air diffuses through the transport belt to detack a sheet from the transport belt;
- and
- a baffle defined as a screen conforming to at least a circumferential portion of the outer surface of the blower roll, wherein the baffle is slideable between at least two positions along a longitudinal length of the body to control an airflow toward the transport belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.