Endless flexible belt for a printing system
AssigneeLanda Corporation Ltd.
InventorsBenzion LANDA, Sagi ABRAMOVICH, Aharon SHMAISER, Rami KELLER, Itshak ASHKANAZI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.
Claims27
A flexible belt for use in a printing system, comprising an elongate strip of which the ends are releasably or permanently securable to one another so as to:
- (i) form a seam at a location where the ends of the strip are connected to each other and (ii) convert the strip into an endless loop, which belt, when mounted over rollers and in use, travels along a continuous path, wherein (A) the elongate strip has parallel sides that define a lateral direction that is perpendicular to each of the parallel sides;
- and (B) the ends of the elongate strip are slightly inclined relative to the lateral direction to avoid a sudden change in tension as the belt passes over the rollers.
2-4. (canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A flexible belt as claimed in claim 33, wherein the formations are made of a material having a low friction coefficient to ensure smooth running of the formations within the lateral tracks.
10-16. (canceled)
(canceled)
A belt system including a flexible belt as claimed in claim 33 and a support frame guiding and driving the belt, wherein the support frame further includes two lateral guiding tracks, extending one on each side of the belt, each track being of suitable cross-section to slidably retain the formations on the sides of the belt.
(canceled)
24-29. (canceled)
A printing system comprising:
- a. a plurality of rollers;
- b. a flexible belt mounted over the rollers, the flexible belt comprising an elongate strip of which the ends are releasably or permanently secured to one another so as to:
- (i) form a seam at a location where the ends of the strip are connected to each other and (ii) convert the strip into an endless loop;
- c. an image forming station for forming ink-images on an outer surface of the flexible belt by droplet-deposition thereon;
- and
- d. an impression station where the ink-images are transferred from the belt outer surface to substrate,
- wherein:
- A. circulation of the belt serves to transport the ink-images from image forming station to the impression station;
- B. the elongate strip has parallel sides that define a lateral direction that is perpendicular to each of the parallel sides;
- and
- C. the ends of the elongate strip are slightly inclined relative to the lateral direction to avoid a sudden change in tension as the belt passes circulates around the rollers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.