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
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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.
Claims19
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 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.
A tile element for forming a belt support structure of an endless belt conveyor for an inkjet printer, the tile element comprising:
- a plurality of longitudinal, narrow support beams positioned parallel to one another in a first direction to define a flat support plane for the belt;
- and
- spaced apart connection bridges for connecting the support beams to one another,
- wherein the connection bridges extend perpendicular to the support beams in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, which the connection bridges being positioned remote from the support plane, and
- wherein the tile element is formed of a plastic material, preferably of an injection molded plastic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.