US 11,697,296 B2 · Devices, systems, and methods for supplying makeup air through openings in carrier plates of printing system

Devices, systems, and methods for supplying makeup air through openings in carrier plates of printing system

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsDouglas K. Herrmann, Linn C. Hoover, Patrick Jun Howe, Joseph C. Sheflin, Robert Jian Zhang, John Patrick Baker, Brian M. Balthasar, Glenn Batchelor, Anthony Salvatore Condello, Ali R. Dergham, Timothy P. Foley, Richard A. Kalb, Peter John Knausdorf, Jason M. LeFevre, Jack T. Lestrange, Chu-Heng Liu, Paul J. McConville, Seemit Praharaj, Palghat S. Ramesh, Erwin Ruiz, Emmett James Spence, Rachel Lynn Tanchak, Kareem Tawil, Carlos M. Terrero, Megan Zielenski

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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.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A printing system, comprising:

a print fluid deposition assembly comprising:
a carrier plate comprising an opening;
a printhead supported by the carrier plate, wherein the printhead is arranged to eject a print fluid through the opening of the carrier plate and to a deposition region of the print fluid deposition assembly;
and
a media transport device comprising a movable support surface, the media transport device configured to hold a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and the movable support surface configured to transport the print medium along a process direction through the deposition region of the print fluid deposition assembly;
and
an airflow control system arranged to flow air through the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead,
wherein the airflow control system is configured to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium transported by the media transport device relative to the printhead.

5 more elements

A method of operating a printing system, the method comprising:

transporting a print medium through a deposition region of a print fluid deposition assembly of the printing system, wherein the print medium is held against a moving support surface via vacuum suction during the transporting;
ejecting print fluid from a printhead of the printing assembly through an opening in a carrier plate supporting the printhead to deposit the print fluid to the print medium in the deposition region;
controlling an airflow control system to selectively flow air through the opening in the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead and to the movable support surface, wherein the controlling is based on a location of the print medium relative to the printhead.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.