In an example, a media conveyor includes a media support platform having a suction hole, and a valve to selectively close the suction hole. A valve actuator to actuate the valve includes an air tube having an air inlet and a seal to selectively seal the air inlet.

An electrode sheet turning mechanism includes a housing, a conveyor belt, a driver, and a stripper. The housing has a suction cavity, and forms an arc-shaped guide surface. A material feeding region and a material discharging region are formed on the arc-shaped guide surface, which is further provided with first suction holes. Second suction holes run through the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is wound on the arc-shaped guide surface, and seals the first suction holes. The driver is for driving the conveyor belt to move. The stripper is for extending to the position between the conveyor belt and the electrode sheet. In the present utility model, the electrode sheet can be automatically turned.

The present invention relates to an automatic image positioning system for a sheet material. The automatic positioning system is used to convey the sheet material from a feeding place to a paper gripper bar. The automatic positioning system includes a first conveying device and a second conveying device, the automatic positioning system further includes a photoelectric detection device used to perform positioning and positioning correction on the sheet material, and the photoelectric detection device is provided at a starting end of the second conveying device (3). Compared with the prior art, the present invention utilizes an photoelectric detection device to perform positioning and positioning correction on a material, uses a vacuum adsorption component to stabilize the material, and has advantages of high systemic positioning accuracy, high positioning correction accuracy, and strong material adaptability.

A printing system includes a driving belt configured to drive media through the printing system relative to one or more print heads and a vacuum conveyor system. The vacuum conveyor system includes a vacuum chamber cover having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, as well as a plurality of openings through the cover from the first surface to the second surface. A number of seals are disposed to match the location of openings. Each seal extends along the length of the vacuum chamber cover and is drivable to open or close a region with openings. A vacuum chamber below the second surface of the vacuum chamber cover is configured to apply a vacuum to the media through one or more of the openings that are open. The applied vacuum constrains the media on the driving belt by flattening it against the driving belt.

A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly and a media transport assembly. The ink deposition assembly comprises a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid to a deposition region of the ink deposition assembly. The media transport assembly comprises a vacuum source and a movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises valves having holes through the media support surface. The media transport assembly is configured to hold one or more print media against the movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated from the vacuum source through valves. The valves are each configured to transition between a closed state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is prevented and an open state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is allowed.

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.

In one example, a media support with a continuous belt rotatable and suction cups lengthwise along the belt and in lines laterally across the belt to hold down a sheet of print media as the sheet is moved through a hold down area, a vacuum pump to supply vacuum to the suction cups. The vacuum control system is configured to close a supply of vacuum to all of the suction cups in the hold down area and then open the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of multiple lines of suction cups as each line enters the hold down area and then close the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of the multiple lines of suction cups as each line leaves the hold down area until all of the suction cups in the hold down area are closed.

In one example, a media support includes a continuous loop belt and multiple suction cups arranged along the outer perimeter of the belt. Each suction cup has a port aligned with a hole in the belt so that air may be evacuated from the suction cup when connected to a vacuum source.

In an example, there is provided a method including: receiving, at a processor, data specifying the shape of a blank to form a folded article; and determining, using the processor, based on the received data, a suction array layout to hold the blank against a media support, wherein the suction array layout conforms to the shape of the blank.

Disclosed are a printer vacuum tables, and corresponding systems and methods for their use, in which the printer vacuum tables include multiple zones to apply vacuum, to hold a variety of media types and thicknesses within a given flatness range, to allow high definition printing. The vacuum zones run in the print direction, and each can be controlled for vacuum on and off. In an illustrative embodiment, the vacuum zones include one or more vacuum zones that are fixed with respect to a printer vacuum table surface, and one or more variable vacuum zones that are movable with respect to the printer vacuum table surface. One or more of the vacuum zones can be turned off if the print media does not cover the zone, such as to prevent leakage, and to provide more consistent vacuum hold down, regardless of media size or width.