A printer includes a print station; a media transport mechanism arranged for conveying print media on a transport path past the print station, the transport mechanism having a support surface for supporting the media; and a vacuum device arranged for attracting the media against the support surface on a section of the transport path downstream of the print station. The vacuum device is divided, in the direction along the transport path, into at least two segments in which the media are attractable with different non-zero suction pressures.

A sheet suction device includes a drum including multiple suction holes in a circumferential surface of the drum, the drum configured to bear a sheet on the circumferential surface and rotate, a suction device configured to suck the sheet through the multiple suction holes, a rotary valve between the multiple suction holes of the drum and the suction device, the rotary valve configured to rotate relative to the drum to change a number of the multiple suction holes communicating with the suction device, and a driver configured to relatively rotate the drum and the rotary valve.

A substrate printing system is disclosed having a perforated conveyor belt adapted for transporting on the same a substrate to be printed, wherein the perforated conveyor belt has a set of perforations; a perforated grill which has a set of perforations and which is configured such that the perforated conveyor belt can be moved over the perforated grill; and a suction chamber which has a suction element, the suction chamber being in communication with the perforated conveyor belt and with the perforated grill such that the suction flow created by the suction element is adapted for passing through perforations of the perforated conveyor belt and of the perforated grill to secure the substrate to the perforated conveyor belt.

A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. Print media are held against a movable support surface via vacuum suction, and the movable support surface transports the print media through the deposition region. A vacuum plenum comprises a vacuum platen over which the movable support surface moves. The vacuum platen has platen holes that communicate the vacuum suction from the vacuum plenum to the movable support surface. An airflow restriction mechanism forms a high impedance zone in the vacuum platen, the high impedance zone comprising a subset of the platen holes. The airflow impedance through the high impedance zone is relatively high compared to the airflow impedance through another subset of the platen holes, which are part of a low impedance zone. The high impedance zone may be located near the printhead to reduce airflow through uncovered platen holes near the printhead.

A sheet suction device includes a drum including multiple suction holes in a circumferential surface of the drum, the drum configured to bear a sheet on the circumferential surface and rotate, a suction device configured to suck the sheet through the multiple suction holes, a rotary valve between the multiple suction holes of the drum and the suction device, the rotary valve configured to rotate relative to the drum to change a number of the multiple suction holes communicating with the suction device, and a driver configured to relatively rotate the drum and the rotary valve.

A vacuum system for securing substrates is provided, having a suction line, the conveyor belt configured to receive and transport at least one substrate, wherein the conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of perforations, wherein the vacuum system is configured to produce fluid suction through the perforations towards the interior of the suction line, generating a securing force of the at least one substrate to the conveyor belt. The invention is characterized in that each perforation is equipped with a valve which allows the opening and closing of the perforation, allowing and impeding, respectively, the passage of a fluid flow through the perforation.

A sheet suction device includes a sheet carrier, a suction unit, and a rotary body. The sheet carrier has a carrying region. The carrying region includes a plurality of suction openings. The sheet carrier is configured to rotate while holding a sheet. The suction unit is configured to communicate with the plurality of suction openings and suck air via the plurality of suction openings. The rotary body is disposed between the plurality of suction openings and the suction unit. The rotary body is configured to rotate to change a number of suction openings that communicate with the suction unit, among the plurality of suction openings of the sheet carrier.

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a first conveyance unit which includes a first conveyance rotator, a first suction fan, and a first suction port, a second conveyance unit which includes a second conveyance rotator, a second suction fan, and a second suction port, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to execute a first mode of changing a rotational speed of the second suction fan from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed after a leading edge of the sheet passes through the fixing unit in a case where a sheet having a length longer than a length from the fixing unit to a downstream end of the first suction port in the sheet conveyance direction is conveyed.

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 machine for processing individual sheets comprises at least one processing station, in particular in inkjet printing station, and a transport system (100) for transporting the individual sheets through the processing 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 support conveyor (190) comprises a vacuum system for supporting the individual sheet on an interacting surface of the support conveyor, the vacuum system comprising a plurality of orifices in the interacting surface. The 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.