Belt support structure for a conveyor of an inkjet printer
AssigneeCanon Production Printing Holding B.V.
InventorsJoseph A. Schulkes, Mark Rietbergen, Roy H. R. Jacobs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low cost and low air resistance belt support structure for an endless belt conveyor of an inkjet printer can be achieved with the belt support structure being provided over a suction chamber. The belt support structure includes a plurality of longitudinal, narrow support beams positioned spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another in a transport direction of the belt to define a flat support plane for the belt. The support beams provides a relatively small contact area with the belt, which results in low friction. The support beams further allow for a relatively large open area between them to achieve a low air resistance.
Claims15
A conveyor for an inkjet printer, comprising:
- an endless, air permeable belt positioned at least partially over a suction chamber;
- and
- a belt support structure provided over the suction chamber,
- wherein the belt support structure comprises a plurality of longitudinal, narrow support beams directly contacting the belt and positioned spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another in a transport direction of the belt to define a flat support plane for the belt,
- wherein the belt support structure further comprises spaced apart connection bridges for connecting support beams to one another, the connection bridges extending perpendicular to the support beams in a lateral direction of the belt, and the connection bridges being positioned remote from the support plane,
- wherein the belt support structure is spaced apart from a bottom surface of the suction chamber, and
- wherein an opening is formed between neighboring support beams and neighboring connection bridges, wherein a combined area of the openings exceeds a combined area of the support beams and the connection bridges, when viewed perpendicular to the support plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.