Patent ID: 9375943
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for processing ink applied to substrate media sheets, the apparatus comprising: a control cylinder rotatably supported for thermal conduction to a sheet of substrate media, the sheet conveying ink deposited on a first side thereof, the sheet being held against a peripheral arch of the control cylinder as the control cylinder rotates with the first side of the sheet directly engaging and wrapping around the control cylinder along the peripheral arch, a rotational velocity of the control cylinder adjustable for regulating a dwell time in which the sheet of substrate media sheet remains in direct engagement with the control cylinder; a thermal control element for heating or cooling the control cylinder via cooling fluid or a thermal electric cooling device while holding the media sheet in direct contact with the control cylinder, heating or cooling the media sheet via adjustment of the dwell time of the sheet of substrate media; and a pressure roll for spreading the ink, the pressure roll together with the control cylinder forming a spreader nip, the spreader nip selectively changeable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the pressure roll being biased toward the control cylinder for applying pressure to the ink on the sheet, the pressure roll spaced further away from the control cylinder in the open position relative to the closed position, wherein the dwell time is regulated by controlling the velocity of the control cylinder such to allow the sheet to be held against the control cylinder long enough for a sensor to actively sense a temperature of the sheet and heat or cool the sheet, as needed, to a uniform temperature.