Patent ID: 6834949
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in a transportation direction into or out of an operating station having printing heads, the device comprising:a negative-pressure source; a movable belt formed with through-passage holes, said belt having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on said surface; and a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to the operating station and having a throttle opening, said screening device serving for reducing an airflow in region of the printing heads at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on said underlying surface, said screening device including: a cover plate disposed beneath said belt, said cover plate formed with pass-through openings; a sheet-like mesh formed with holes and disposed beneath said cover plate, the holes of said mesh being of such number and size to cause, as a result of flow resistance thereof, an adequate reduction in the airflow the region of the printing heads; a virtually limited first suction chamber disposed beneath the region of the printing heads, said first suction chamber being connected to said negative-pressure source via said throttle opening; and further suction chambers connected to said negative-pressure source, said further suction chambers being located adjacent said first suction chamber, said first suction chamber and said further suction chambers having termination edges, said termination edges limiting said first suction chamber and said further suction chambers in the transportation direction, and said further suction chambers having a greater negative pressure than that of said first suction chamber.