Patent ID: 6820871
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: B41J,B65H

Abstract:
A printer for printing on porous sheets of media fed from a stack of such sheets, the printer comprisinga gas stream supply mechanism that is configured to generate a gas stream and is positioned so that, in use, the gas stream impinges on a first sheet of the stack, the gas stream supply mechanism being configured so that the gas stream penetrates the first sheet to generate a cushion of gas between the first sheet and a second sheet, thereby lifting the first sheet from the second sheet; a capturing mechanism for capturing the first sheet, the capturing mechanism being displaceable between a pick-up position in which the first sheet is captured and a feed position; a displacement mechanism for displacing the capturing mechanism between the pick-up and feed positions; a feed mechanism that is arranged downstream of the capturing mechanism and is configured to engage the first sheet as the capturing mechanism is displaced from the pick-up position to the feed position and to feed the first sheet along a printing path; and a printing assembly that is arranged downstream of the feed mechanism to receive the first sheet and to carry out a printing operation on the first sheet.