PAPER INPUT MODULE FOR A PRINTING APPARATUS

Abstract

A paper input module for use in a printing apparatus includes a substantially closed box for holding a stack of sheets of a print substrate; a duct in fluid connection with the closed box and arranged for transporting a sheet of the print substrate out of the paper input module; and a transport mechanism for engaging a sheet of the print substrate to exit the paper input module via the duct. A method for conditioning a stack of print substrates in such a paper input module is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A paper input module for use in a printing apparatus comprising: a substantially closed box for holding a stack of sheets of a print substrate; a duct in fluid connection with the closed box and arranged for transporting a sheet of the print substrate out of the paper input module; and a transport mechanism for engaging a sheet of the print substrate to exit the paper input module via the duct, wherein the duct has a width, w, a length, l and a height, h, and wherein the width is accommodated to a width of the sheet of the print substrate, wherein an aspect ratio of the duct is defined as the length divided by the height (AR=l/h), and wherein the aspect ratio is larger than 2.

2. The paper input module according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio (AR) is between 5 and 20.

3. The paper input module according to claim 1, wherein the length of the duct l is at least 3 cm.

4. The paper input module according to claim 2, wherein the length of the duct l is at least 3 cm.

5. The paper input module according to claim 1, wherein the height of the duct h is at most 1 cm.

6. The paper input module according to claim 2, wherein the height of the duct h is at most 1 cm.

7. The paper input module according to claim 3, wherein the height of the duct h is at most 1 cm.

8. The paper input module according to claim 1, wherein the substantially closed box comprises a mechanism for installing a stack of sheets of print substrate in the interior space of the paper input module.

9. The paper input module according to claim 8, wherein the paper input comprises a seal for creating an airtight connection between the substantially closed box and the mechanism for installing a stack of sheets of print substrate in the interior space of the paper input module.

10. The paper input module according to claim 9, wherein the seal comprises a rubber strip.

11. A method for conditioning a stack of print substrates in a paper input module according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing a packaged stack of sheets of a print substrate; unpacking the packaged stack of sheets of print substrate and immediately installing the unpacked stack in the interior space of the paper input module; closing the paper input module; and equilibrating the interior space of the paper input module with the stack of sheets of a print substrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] For a more complete understanding of the invention and the advantages thereof, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing FIGURE, in which like reference characters designate like parts and in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a paper input module according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a paper input module according to the present invention. The paper input module 10 comprises a substantially closed box 1 for holding a stack of sheets of a print substrate 2, a duct 3 in fluid connection with the closed box and arranged for transporting a sheet of the print substrate out of the paper input module, the duct having a width w, a length l an a height h; wherein the width is accommodated to a width of the sheet of the print substrate and wherein an aspect ratio of the duct is defined as the length divided by the height (AR=l/h).

[0028] FIG. 1 further shows a transport mechanism 4 for engaging a sheet of the print substrate to exit the paper input module via the duct. Separation of a single sheet from the stack can be realized in any known way including with air-based sheet separation with internal recirculation of air in order to prevent or at least mitigate convection through the slit (not shown).

[0029] Without wanting to be bound to any theory, a duct according to the present invention prevents diffusion of moisture from the ambient environment (in the context of the present invention ambient environment means environment outside the substantially closed box of the paper input module, e.g. located at no. 10 in FIG. 1) into the paper input module. Increasing the length of the duct further restricts the moisture influx due to diffusion. Further, convection through the slit should be insignificant and if any, the flow should be laminar. To obtain this the height of the slit must be small.

[0030] In use, the paper input module according to the present invention enables to isolate a stack of sheets of print substrate from the ambient environment. In equilibration the environment in the interior of the paper input module adjusts to the properties of the stack of sheets. In this way, the climate in the interior of the paper input module is set by the stack of sheet of print substrate itself. Each (different) print substrate type sets its own climate. A print operator does not have to set a set point for relative humidity per used print substrate type.

[0031] The paper input module according to the present invention does not require an additional conditioning unit, meaning no humidifier, no active relative humidity control. The serviceability of the paper input module improves a lot.

[0032] Another advantage of the paper input module according to the present invention is that the paper input module can be switched off when the print engine is turned off. In a switched off mode of the paper input module the convection through the duct is reduced to zero. The paper input module is substantially airtight; hence the equilibrated conditions in the interior space of the paper input module hardly change.