Interdigitated vacuum roll system for a cut sheet printer dryer transport

A vacuum roller system, comprising:

• an assembly of interdigitated rollers comprising an interdigitated pattern of rollers comprising interlocked rollers that are clasped or interleaved, wherein the assembly of interdigitated rollers includes a plurality of shafts on which the interlocked rollers are located, the plurality of shafts including variable shaft spacing;
• a single drive system that drives the assembly of interdigitated rollers;
• a vacuum system, wherein the assembly of interdigitated rollers is operably connected to the vacuum system to move sheets of media through a downstream dryer in a printer, wherein a vacuum is drawn between individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers, wherein the vacuum is distributed across a sheet of media among the sheets of media and is split around the individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers;
• a vacuum plenum that covers a bottom of the assembly of interdigitated rollers, the vacuum plenum including a lower plenum, wherein the vacuum is drawn between each individual roll among the individual rollers, wherein a distribution of vacuum thereof spreads a vacuum pressure over the sheet of media in an even manner, wherein the vacuum plenum equalizes the vacuum pressure for the distribution of the vacuum in an even manner because of an irregular supply or an irregular demand;
• and
• a control system linked to the assembly of interdigitated rollers comprising the interdigitated pattern of rollers, wherein the control system is operable to adjust roll spacing among the rollers of the assembly of interdigitated rollers and the vacuum pressure based on media parameters input to the vacuum roller system.

A method of operating a vacuum roller system, comprising:

• creating a vacuum with a vacuum system;
• and
• moving sheets of media through a downstream dryer in a printer, wherein the vacuum is drawn between individual rollers among an assembly of interdigitated rollers comprising an interdigitated pattern of rollers comprising interlocked rollers that are clasped or interleaved, wherein the assembly of interdigitated rollers includes a plurality of shafts on which the interlocked rollers are located, wherein the plurality of shafts includes variable shaft spacing;
• distributing with a vacuum plenum that covers a bottom of the assembly of interdigitated rollers, the vacuum plenum including a lower plenum, the vacuum provided by the vacuum system across a sheet of media among the sheets of media, wherein the vacuum is split around the individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers, wherein the vacuum is drawn between each individual roll among the individual rollers, wherein a distribution of the vacuum spreads pressure over the sheet of media in an even manner, wherein the vacuum plenum equalizes a pressure for the distribution of the vacuum in an even manner because of an irregular supply or an irregular demand;
• and
• adjusting through a control system linked to the assembly of interdigitated rollers comprising the interdigitated pattern of rollers, roll spacing among the rollers of the assembly of interdigitated rollers and the vacuum pressure based on media parameters input to the vacuum roller system from the control system.