Multi-chambered air knife for image forming system

A media separation system for separating media from a roll in an image forming system, the media separation system comprising:

• an air source;
• a valve that directs air from the air source into a first outlet and a second outlet, the valve being selectable such that the air can be directed into only one of the first and second outlets at a time;
• a first supply line fluidly connected to the first outlet;
• a second supply line fluidly connected to the second outlet;
• and
• an air knife having
• a main body;
• a first air plenum inside the main body, the first air plenum being fluidly connected to the first supply line;
• a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum;
• a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage;
• a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the main body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the main body through the first air exit;
• a second air plenum inside the main body, the second air plenum being fluidly connected to the second supply line and separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum;
• a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum;
• a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage;
• and
• a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the main body such that the second air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the main body through the second air exit.

An image forming system for forming an image on media, the image forming system comprising:

• a housing;
• a fuser surface located in the housing;
• a pressure surface located in the housing;
• a media path between the fuser surface and the pressure surface;
• a media separation system for separating the media from the fuser surface, the media separation system having
• an air source;
• a valve that directs air from the air source into a first outlet and a second outlet, the valve being selectable such that the air can be directed into only one of the first and second outlets at a time;
• a first supply line fluidly connected to the first outlet;
• a second supply line fluidly connected to the second outlet;
• and
• an air knife having
• a main body;
• a first air plenum inside the main body, the first air plenum being fluidly connected to the first supply line;
• a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum;
• a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage;
• a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the main body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the main body through the first air exit;
• a second air plenum inside the main body, the second air plenum being fluidly connected to the second supply line and separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum;
• a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum;
• a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage;
• and
• a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the main body such that the second air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the main body through the second air exit,
• wherein the first and second air exits direct the air toward an area in which the media contacts the fuser surface in order to separate the media from the fuser surface.