Method and apparatus for spreader nip balancing in a print system

A method for balancing a pressure profile of a spreader nip formed by a first roller and a second roller within a print system, the method comprising:

• determining a line parallel to a target process direction;
• determining the presence of a substrate positioned between the first roller and the second roller in the spreader nip;
• causing, at least in part, one of an inboard side and an outboard side of the spreader nip to be loaded with a first variable force;
• causing, at least in part, the substrate to be fed through the spreader nip while the one of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip is loaded with the first variable force;
• causing, at least in part, the first variable force to increase as the substrate is fed through the spreader nip;
• determining, by way of a sensor, the substrate is caused to track to one of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip as the first variable force is caused to increase;
• determining a first biasing force to be equal to a value of the first variable force that causes the substrate to track to the one of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip;
• causing, at least in part, the other one of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip to be loaded with a second variable force;
• causing, at least in part, the substrate to be fed through the spreader nip while the other of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip is loaded with the second variable force;
• causing, at least in part, the second variable force to increase as the substrate is fed through the spreader nip;
• determining, by way of the sensor, the substrate is caused to track to the other of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip as the second variable force is caused to increase;
• determining a second biasing force to be equal to a value of the second variable force that causes the substrate to track to the other of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip;
• determining a first balancing force based, at least in part, on the first biasing force;
• determining a second balancing force based, at least in part, on the second biasing force;
• and
• causing, at least in part, the inboard side of the spreader nip to be loaded by one of the first balancing force and the second balancing force and the outboard side of the spreader nip to be loaded by the other of the first balancing force and the second balancing force to cause the substrate to track in a direction such that a side edge of the substrate is caused to track parallel to the line parallel to the target process direction.