Starwheel actuation timing for print media transport system and method

A printing system for printing on a print media, the printing system comprising:

• a printhead assembly adapted to eject ink drops toward a first side of the print media into a print zone between the printhead assembly and the print media to print on the print media;
• and
• a print media transport assembly adapted to route the print media through the printing system relative to the printhead assembly, the print media transport assembly including:
• a drive roller rotatably mounted on an exit side of the print zone and adapted to contact a second side of the print media, and
• a starwheel rotatably mounted opposite the drive roller and configured to move between a disengaged position in which the starwheel is spaced from the print media and an engaged position in which the starwheel contacts the first side of the print media,
• wherein the starwheel is prevented from contact with the drive roller at all times when in the engaged position and adapted to be moved to the engaged position after the drive roller contacts the second side of the print media.

A printing system for printing on a print media having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the printing system comprising:

• a printhead assembly adapted to eject ink drops toward a first side of the print media into a print zone between the printhead assembly and the print media to print on the print media;
• and
• a print media transport assembly adapted to route the print media through the printing system relative to the printhead assembly, the print media transport assembly including:
• a drive roller rotatably mounted on an exit side of the print zone and adapted to contact a second side of the print media, and
• a starwheel rotatably mounted opposite the drive roller and configured to move between a disengaged position in which the starwheel is spaced from the print media and an engaged position in which the starwheel contacts the first side of the print media,
• wherein the starwheel is adapted to be moved to the engaged position after the drive roller contacts the second side of the print media,
• wherein the starwheel is adapted to be in the disengaged position before the drive roller contacts the leading portion of the print media, and wherein the starwheel is adapted to be in the disengaged position when the trailing portion of the print media exits the print zone.

A printing system for printing on a print media, the printing system comprising:

• a printhead assembly adapted to eject ink drops toward a first side of the print media into a print zone between the printhead assembly and the print media to print on the print media;
• and
• a print media transport assembly adapted to route the print media through the printing system relative to the printhead assembly, the print media transport assembly including:
• a drive roller rotatably mounted on an exit side of the print zone and adapted to contact a second side of the print media, and
• a starwheel rotatably mounted opposite the drive roller and configured to move between a disengaged position in which the starwheel is spaced from the print media and an engaged position in which the starwheel contacts the first side of the print media,
• wherein the starwheel is adapted to be moved to the engaged position after the drive roller contacts the second side of the print media, and wherein the starwheel is adapted to be moved to the disengaged position when printing is complete.

A method of advancing a print media through a print zone, the method comprising:

• rotatably mounting a drive roller on an exit side of the print zone;
• rotatably mounting a starwheel in opposing relationship to the drive roller on the exit side of the print zone;
• contacting a first side of the print media with the drive roller;
• and
• selectively actuating the starwheel and moving the starwheel between a first position in which the starwheel is spaced from the print media and a second position in which the starwheel contacts a second side of the print media, including preventing contact between the starwheel and the drive roller, and moving the starwheel to the second position and contacting the second side of the print media with the starwheel after the drive roller contacts the first side of the print media.

A print media transport assembly for advancing a print media through a print zone, the print media transport assembly comprising:

• a primary drive roller rotatably mounted on an entry side of the print zone and adapted to contact the print media and advance the print media through the print zone;
• a pinch roller rotatably mounted opposite the primary drive roller and adapted to contact the print media;
• a secondary drive roller rotatably mounted on an exit side of the print zone and adapted to contact a first side of the print media;
• and
• a starwheel rotatably mounted opposite the secondary drive roller and adapted to selectively contact a second side of the print media,
• wherein the starwheel is prevented from contact with the secondary drive roller at all times and adapted to contact the print media for less than one revolution of the starwheel.

A method of advancing a print media through a print zone, the method comprising:

• rotatably mounting a drive roller on an exit side of the print zone;
• rotatably mounting a starwheel in opposing relationship to the drive roller on the exit side of the print zone;
• contacting a first side of the print media with the drive roller, and
• selectively actuating the starwheel and contacting a second side of the print media with the starwheel, including preventing contact between the starwheel and the drive roller at all times, and contacting the print media with the starwheel for less than one revolution of the starwheel.

A method of printing on a print media, the method comprising:

• feeding the print media into a print zone;
• printing on a first side of the print media in the print zone;
• contacting a second side of the print media with a drive roller provided on an exit side of the print zone;
• and
• selectively actuating a starwheel provided in opposing relationship to the drive roller on the exit side of the print zone, including preventing contact between the starwheel and the drive roller at all times during printing, and selectively contacting the first side of the print media with the starwheel based on a position of the print media during printing.

A method of printing on a print media, the method comprising:

• feeding the print media into a print zone;
• printing on a first side of the print media in the print zone;
• contacting a second side of the print media with a drive roller provided on an exit side of the print zone;
• and
• selectively actuating a starwheel provided in opposing relationship to the drive roller on the exit side of the print zone, including moving the starwheel between a first position in which the starwheel is spaced from the print media and a second position in which the starwheel contacts the first side of the print media based on a position of the print media during printing,
• wherein selectively actuating the starwheel includes moving the starwheel to the first position when printing on the print media is complete.