A system (10) includes an intermediate transfer member (ITM) (44) and a substrate conveyor (80). The ITM (44) is configured to receive droplets of one or more printing fluids so as to form an image thereon, and to transfer the image to a target substrate (50). The substrate conveyor (80) is configured to grip and move the target substrate (50) to and from the ITM (44) for transferal of the image, the substrate conveyor (80) includes one or more rotatable elements (110, 200), which are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate (50), such that, when the target substrate (50) moves over the one or more rotatable elements (110, 200), at least one of the rotatable elements (110, 200) is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate (50).

A heating device includes a heating unit that heats in a non-contact manner an upper surface of a transport material that is transported, and a blowing unit that blows air against a lower surface of the transport material via a blowing hole that is provided in an opposing surface opposing the lower surface of the transport material, the opposing surface being obliquely disposed with respect to a horizontal direction.

A transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet-like transport material without holding a one-end-side portion of the transport material in a transport direction; and a blowing unit that blows air against a lower surface of the transport material that is transported by the transport unit via multiple blowing holes that open with respect to the lower surface, an arrangement interval of the multiple blowing holes in the transport direction being inconstant in the transport direction.

An inkjet printing machine for printing individual sheets comprises at least one printing station and a transport system (100) for transporting the individual sheets through the printing station, along a transport direction. The transport system (100) comprises at least one gripper conveyor (150) movable along the transport direction, for gripping one of the individual sheets defining a sheet position in transport direction. The transport system (100) further comprises at least one support conveyor (190) movable along the transport direction for supporting a region of the individual sheet, wherein the supported individual sheet and the support conveyor (190) are movable along the transport direction with respect to each other. The printing machine allows for efficient and flexible handling of individual sheets, in particular large format sheets of materials such as corrugated cardboard or other materials that have a certain degree of inherent stability.

A conveyor includes a first conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a first direction, a second conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed in a second direction different from the first direction, a switching part configured to switch a conveyance direction of the sheet between the first direction and the second direction, a sheet detector configured to detect the sheet at the switching part, a conveyance system driver configured to convey and stop the sheet, and circuitry configured to control the conveyance system driver to stop conveyance of the sheet in a predetermined condition, control the sheet detector to detect the sheet at the switching part, and control the switching part to switch the conveyance direction of the sheet from the first direction to the second direction when the sheet detector does not detect the sheet at the switching part.

A liquid ejecting device includes a transporting belt configured to transport a medium, a head configured to eject a liquid onto the medium, a first gripping portion configured to grip the first end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction, and a second gripping portion configured to grip the second end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the second end portion, the first gripping portion performs a first operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the first end portion, the second gripping portion performs a second operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt.

A liquid ejecting device includes a transporting belt configured to transport a medium, a head configured to eject a liquid onto the medium, a first gripping portion configured to grip the first end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction, and a second gripping portion configured to grip the second end portion of the transporting belt, and move in the transport direction. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the second end portion, the first gripping portion performs a first operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt. When the head is positioned outside the transporting belt with respect to the first end portion, the second gripping portion performs a second operation of gripping the transporting belt and moving to a predetermined position, and releasing the gripped transporting belt.

A printing system comprises a media transport device which holds print media, such as paper, against a movable support surface, such as a belt, by vacuum suction through holes in a vacuum platen and transports the print media though a deposition region of one or more printheads, which deposit a print fluid, such as ink, on the print media. The printing system comprises an airflow control device comprising dampers that are moveable along a direction perpendicular to the vacuum platen between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, each damper blocking at least one row of the holes in the deployed configuration. The airflow control device also comprises actuators to move the damper(s). The actuator(s) are controlled to selectively move the damper(s) between the undeployed and deployed configuration based on a position of an inter-media zone between adjacent print media held against the movable support surface.

A transport device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet-like transport material without holding a one-end-side portion of the transport material in a transport direction; and a blowing unit that blows air against a lower surface of the transport material that is transported by the transport unit via multiple blowing holes that open with respect to the lower surface, an arrangement interval of the multiple blowing holes in a direction of intersection with respect to the transport direction being smaller at two end portions than at a central portion of the blowing unit.

According to examples, there is provided a suction device, system and method for retaining media on a surface. The suction device comprising a suction cup having a vacuum port for coupling the suction cup to a vacuum source, a sealing piston configured to seal the vacuum port when the sealing piston is in a first position, wherein when the sealing piston is in a second, depressed, position the vacuum source is coupled to the suction cup the sealing piston further comprising a piston head extending above a rim of the suction cup when the sealing piston is in the first position, and a biasing element to bias the sealing piston to the first position.