A cardboard conveyor device forms sub negative pressure regions communicative to a main negative pressure region by using wind shield structures of a plate body structure, thus saving power consumption of an aspirator. The plate body structure is for example formed by three plate bodies, the plate body of a middle layer has air holes, the plate body of an upper layer has first interval spaces penetrating the plate body of the upper layer, and the plate body of a lower layer has second interval spaces penetrating the plate body of the lower layer. Each of the first interval spaces is communicative to the corresponding second interval space via the corresponding air holes, and the second interval spaces are communicative to the main negative pressure region. Thus, the sub negative pressure regions can provide a negative pressure to the cardboard being conveyed.

A substrate support system 10 for a conveyor printer is provided, comprising a support unit 100 comprising a plurality of vacuum apertures 108 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of negative pressure. The support unit 100 also comprises at least one air bearing 114 arranged for fluidic communication with a source of positive pressure. The air bearing 114 comprises porous media 116. The substrate support system 10 also comprises a conveyor belt 150 arranged over the support unit 100 for supporting a substrate 170 to be printed on. The conveyor belt 150 comprises a plurality of belt apertures. The vacuum apertures 108 are arranged to convey a negative pressure through the belt apertures for retaining the substrate 170 on the conveyor belt 150. The at least one air bearing 114 is arranged to convey a positive pressure to support the conveyor belt 150.

Apparatus, methods, and systems for a vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing with adjustment to the covered area are disclosed. In some embodiments, a controller of a vacuum conveyor expands first one or more actuators of multiple first actuators of a substrate transportation system to decrease a suction width of an area of suction provided by the vacuum conveyor in accordance with a substrate width of a substrate being inkjet printed using the vacuum conveyor. A second one or more actuators of the multiple first actuators being retracted. The controller retracts multiple second actuators of the vacuum conveyor to increase the suction length of the area of suction while the substrate transportation system moves the substrate along the vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing of the substrate. The controller expands the retracted actuators of the multiple first actuators to increase the suction length as the substrates exit the vacuum conveyor.

The invention relates to a vacuum system for securing items in printing machines, comprising a printing table (2) with a perforated surface and, in relation thereto, a vacuum system for securing the items to be printed, which comprises a box structure (8) connected to a suction system and provided with a perforated wall in relation to the surface of the printing table (2), said box structure (8) having lateral panels that vertically close the interior thereof, which panels can be moved in order to adjust the gap between them in relation to the width of the items to be printed.

Apparatus, methods, and systems for a vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing with adjustment to the covered area are disclosed. In some embodiments, a controller of a vacuum conveyor expands first one or more actuators of multiple first actuators of a substrate transportation system to decrease a suction width of an area of suction provided by the vacuum conveyor in accordance with a substrate width of a substrate being inkjet printed using the vacuum conveyor. A second one or more actuators of the multiple first actuators being retracted. The controller retracts multiple second actuators of the vacuum conveyor to increase the suction length of the area of suction while the substrate transportation system moves the substrate along the vacuum conveyor for inkjet printing of the substrate. The controller expands the retracted actuators of the multiple first actuators to increase the suction length as the substrates exit the vacuum conveyor.

The invention relates to a vacuum system for securing items in printing machines, comprising a printing table (2) with a perforated surface and, in relation thereto, a vacuum system for securing the items to be printed, which comprises a box structure (8) connected to a suction system and provided with a perforated wall in relation to the surface of the printing table (2), said box structure (8) having lateral panels that vertically close the interior thereof, which panels can be moved in order to adjust the gap between them in relation to the width of the items to be printed.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a first transport unit, a second transport belt disposed with a part thereof shifted from the first transport unit toward the downstream side in a transport direction of the web, a suction chamber positioned in an inner side of the second transport belt and configured to create suction inside the suction chamber to suck the web onto the second transport belt, and a current plate positioned inside of the suction chamber to adjust an air current. The current plate has a plurality of holes, and is spaced apart from a surface of the second transport belt such that the air current is diffused between the current plate and the surface of the second transport belt to achieve a uniform suction force in a width direction of the second transport belt.

A cardboard conveyor device forms sub negative pressure regions communicative to a main negative pressure region by using wind shield structures of a plate body structure, thus saving power consumption of an aspirator. The plate body structure is for example formed by three plate bodies, the plate body of a middle layer has air holes, the plate body of an upper layer has first interval spaces penetrating the plate body of the upper layer, and the plate body of a lower layer has second interval spaces penetrating the plate body of the lower layer. Each of the first interval spaces is communicative to the corresponding second interval space via the corresponding air holes, and the second interval spaces are communicative to the main negative pressure region. Thus, the sub negative pressure regions can provide a negative pressure to the cardboard being conveyed.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes: a first transport unit that causes a first transport belt to circle around so as to transport a web; and a second transport unit that is disposed with a part thereof shifted from the first transport unit toward the downstream side in a transport direction of the web, sucks the web in a direction in which the web is spaced from the first transport belt, and transports the web. The second transport unit includes a suction chamber which is positioned on an inner side of a second transport belt circling around and of which an inner space is sucked by a suction unit such that the web is adsorbed onto the second transport belt. The suction unit is positioned on the outer side of the second transport belt in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the web along the surface of the web.

A transport mechanism and method are provided for transporting sheets of a print medium in a printing system. The transport mechanism includes a first conveyor device having a first conveyor body configured to hold a plurality of sheets of print medium and to convey the sheets along the transport path, and a transfer system including a second conveyor device having a second conveyor body configured to hold the sheets and to convey the sheets further along the transport path. The transfer system is configured to transfer the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body in a transfer region. The second conveyor body is adjacent the first conveyor body in the transfer region, and the transfer system includes a suction device configured to provide an under-pressure at the second conveyor body for contactless transfer of the sheets from the first conveyor body to the second conveyor body.