Patent ID: 6238046
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A variable throughput active-passive dryer assembly for handling and controllably drying wet sheets printed in a liquid ink printer, the variable throughput active-passive dryer assembly comprising:(a) a rotatable cylindrical member including a support shaft and an exterior surface defining a path of movement therefor;(b) driving means for rotatably or indexably driving said exterior surface of said rotatable cylindrical member about said path of movement;(c) a number of wet sheet holding and releasing slots formed in said rotatable cylindrical member from said exterior surface towards a center of said rotatable cylindrical member for retaining and passively allowing wet sheets to dry;(d) active drying means associated with each slot of said number of slots for actively drying wet sheets within said each slot; and(e) a programmable controller connected to, and controlling operation of, said indexing means and said active drying means, thereby enabling variable throughput handling and active as well as passive drying of wet printed sheets without ink offset and image smearing problems.