Abstract:
An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path. A print station is positioned along the web path and is configured to apply ink to the continuous web. A temperature leveling ink spreader is disposed along the web path downstream from the print station. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a leveler roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a spreading temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being transported to equalize the temperatures of the web and ink on the web to within a predetermined range about the spreading temperature. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a pressure roller positioned adjacent the leveler roller to form a spreading nip therebetween through which the continuous web is fed after the predetermined dwell time. The spreading nip is configured to apply a predetermined pressure to the continuous web and the ink thereon.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to imaging devices, and in particular, to drum maintenance systems for use with such imaging devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ink jet printers typically include one or more printheads having ink jets that eject drops of ink to form images on print media. The print media may comprise paper, transparency, and the like, and may be provided as a substantially continuous web of media or as discrete sheets of media. A number of different types of ink are available for use by the printheads of ink jet printers. For example, some ink jet printers are configured to utilize phase change ink for printing. Phase change inks are substantially solid at ambient temperatures, but transition to liquid ink when heated to a suitable melting temperature for the ink. Images may be formed on print media with melted phase change ink using a direct printing process or an indirect printing process. In a direct printing process, the melted phase change ink drops are ejected directly onto the print media. In an indirect print process, the melted phase change ink drops are ejected onto an intermediate imaging member for subsequent transfer to the print media. 
         [0003]    In both the direct and indirect printing processes, the drops of melted phase change ink may be fixed to the print media by the application of pressure and/or heat to the ink on the print media. For example, in the indirect printing process, the intermediate imaging member may comprise a rotating drum upon which the drops of ink are deposited for forming the images on the print media. A second roller, also referred to as a transfer or transfix roller, is arranged adjacent to the imaging drum to form a nip through which the print media is fed in timed registration with the ink drops on the imaging drum. As the print media is being fed through the nip, the drops of ink are transferred from the imaging drum to the print media, and the pressure, and in some cases heat, generated in the nip between the imaging drum and the transfix roller spreads the drops out and fixes them to the print media. 
         [0004]    In a direct printing process, the printheads of the printer are arranged to deposit ink directly onto the print media. The print media is then guided to a spreading assembly, or spreader, for fixing the ink to the print media. The spreader comprises a pair of rollers with one of the rollers in the pair comprising an image side roller, also referred to as a spreader drum, which contacts the printed side of the print media. The other roller in the pair is arranged adjacent to the spreader drum to form a nip through which the print media is fed. Similar to the direct printing process, as the print media is fed through the nip, the pressure, and in some cases heat, generated in the nip spreads the drops out and fixes them to the print media. 
         [0005]    One difficulty faced in fixing ink to print media in both direct and indirect print processes is ink adhering or offsetting to the image side roller as the media is fed through the nip. To prevent ink from adhering or offsetting to the image side drum, a drum maintenance system applies release agent to the surface of the image side roller. The release agent is typically a silicone oil or similar fluid material configured to prevent ink from adhering to the surface of the image side drum. The maintenance system includes a release agent applicator, such as a foam roller, that applies the release agent to the drum surface, and a metering blade that meters the applied release agent to a desired thickness. 
         [0006]    The metering blade of the drum maintenance system may also be configured to divert excess release agent from the drum surface to a collection pan, tub, or similar type of structure, so that the diverted release agent may be transported back to the applicator for reuse. To enable the release agent to be diverted from the drum surface by the metering blade, the metering blade in previously known systems are arranged below the drum so that excess release agent, debris, and/or contaminants diverted from the drum by the metering blade may flow down the metering blade body and/or drop into the collection pan. Previously known drum maintenance systems, however, are not capable of diverting and capturing release agent applied to the surface of the drum if there is not space available at the bottom of the drum for the placement of a metering blade. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A drum maintenance system has been developed that enables a metering blade (and applicator) to be positioned at an upper, or peak location, with respect to the surface of an imaging drum or spreader drum while retaining the ability to divert excess release agent, debris, and/or contaminants from the drum surface to a collection pan. In one embodiment, a peak position drum maintenance system for use with an imaging device comprises a drum configured for rotation about an axis in a printer. The drum has an axial length that is greater than a width of print media used in the printer. The axial length of the drum defines a first collection region at a first end of the drum, a second collection region at a second end of the drum, and a media contact surface between the first and the second collection regions. An applicator is configured to apply release agent to the media contact surface as the drum rotates, and a metering blade is configured to meter the release agent applied to the drum to a predetermined thickness. The metering blade is arranged at a peak position with respect to a circumference of the drum extending from the first to the second collection region. A collection reservoir is positioned below the first and the second collection regions for receiving release agent from the first and the second collection regions. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, an imaging device comprises a print media transport system for transporting print media along a media path in a printer. An image side drum and a second roller are arranged to form a nip through which the print media is guided by the media transport system. The image side drum has an axial length that is greater than a width of the print media. The axial length of the drum defines a first collection region at a first end of the drum, a second collection region at a second end of the drum, and a media contact surface between the first and the second collection regions. A printhead system is configured to deposit ink onto one of the print media and the image side drum prior to the media being guided through the nip. An applicator is configured to apply release agent to the media contact surface as the drum rotates, and a metering blade is configured to meter the release agent applied to the drum to a predetermined thickness. The metering blade is arranged at a peak position with respect to a circumference of the drum extending from the first to the second collection region. A collection reservoir is positioned below the first and the second collection regions for receiving release agent from the first and the second collection regions. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a method of operating a drum maintenance system comprises applying release agent to a media contact surface of an image side drum using an applicator; metering the release agent applied to the media contact surface to a predetermined thickness using the metering blade; diverting excess release agent axially along the media contact surface to collection regions at opposing ends of the media contact surface of the drum using the metering blade; and receiving diverted release agent from the collection regions using at least one collection reservoir positioned underneath the drum below the collection regions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic view of an imaging device having an indirect printing system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a direct printing system that may be utilized in the imaging device of  FIG. 1  as an alternative to the indirect printing system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a spreading assembly of a continuous web printer showing the available locations for a drum maintenance system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a peak position drum maintenance system that may be used with the spreading assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the image side drum of the peak position drum maintenance system of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a peak position drum maintenance system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    For a general understanding of the present embodiments, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate like elements. 
         [0017]    As used herein, the term “imaging device” generally refers to a device for applying an image to print media. “Print media” may be a physical sheet of paper, plastic, or other suitable physical print media substrate for images, whether precut or continuous web fed. The imaging device may include a variety of other components, such as finishers, paper feeders, and the like, and may be embodied as a copier, printer, or a multifunction machine. A “print job” or “document” is normally a set of related sheets, usually one or more collated copy sets copied from a set of original print job sheets or electronic document page images, from a particular user, or otherwise related. An image generally may include information in electronic form which is to be rendered on the print media by the marking engine and may include text, graphics, pictures, and the like. As used herein, the process direction is the direction in which an image receiving surface, e.g., media sheet or web, or intermediate transfer drum or belt, onto which the image is transferred moves through the imaging device. The cross-process direction, along the same plane as the image receiving surface, is substantially perpendicular to the process direction. 
         [0018]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a simplified schematic diagram of an imaging device  10 . Operation and control of the various subsystems, components and functions of the imaging device  10  are performed with the aid of a controller  12 . The controller  12  may be a self-contained, dedicated computer system having a central processor unit (CPU), electronic storage or memory, and a display or user interface (UI) (not shown). The controller  12  receives and manages image data flow between image input sources (not shown), which may be a scanning system or a work station connection, and the printheads  22 . The controller  12  generates control signals that are delivered to the components and subsystems. These control signals, for example, include drive signals for actuating inkjets of the printheads  22  to eject drops to form images on print media. 
         [0019]    The imaging device  10  includes a media transport system that is configured to transport print media  14  in a process direction P from a media source  15  along a media path M past various systems and devices of the imaging device  10 , such as the printhead system  30 . The media  14  may comprise any suitable type of media, such as paper, transparency, and the like, and may comprise individual sheets of print media, also referred to as cut sheet media, or a very long, i.e., substantially continuous, web of media, also referred to as a media web. When cut sheet media is used, the media source  15  may comprise one or more media trays as are known in the art for supplying various types and sizes of cut sheet media. When the print media  14  comprises a media web, the media source may be a spool or roll of media. In either case, the media transport system includes suitable devices, such as rollers  16 , as well as baffles, deflectors, and the like (not shown), for transporting the media  14  along media path M in the imaging device  10 . 
         [0020]    Various media conditioning devices and systems may be positioned along the media path M of the imaging device for controlling and regulating the temperature of the print media  14  as well as the ink deposited thereon. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a preheating system  18  may be provided along the media path for bringing the print media to an initial predetermined temperature prior to reaching the printhead system  30 . The preheating system  18  can rely on contact, radiant, conductive, or convective heat to bring the media to a target preheat temperature, which in one practical embodiment, is in a range of about 30° C. to about 70° C. 
         [0021]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the media transport system is configured to transport the print media  14  past a printhead system  30  that includes at least one printhead  22  having ink jets for ejecting drops of ink to form images on the print media. One or more printheads may be provided for each color of ink used in the device  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the imaging device  10  is configured to use four colors of ink, e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CYMK), although more or fewer colors or shades, including colors other than CYMK, may be used. For simplicity, a single printhead is shown for each of the four primary colors—CYMK. Any suitable number of printheads for each color of ink, however, may be employed. 
         [0022]    The imaging device  10  includes an ink supply system  20  that is configured to supply ink from at least one remote source  24  of ink to the printhead system  30 . The imaging device  10  includes four (4) remote sources  24  of ink representing the four colors—CYMK. Any suitable number of remote ink sources may be used. In one embodiment, the ink utilized in the imaging device  10  is a “phase-change ink,” by which is meant that the ink is substantially solid at room temperature and substantially liquid when heated to a phase change ink melting temperature for jetting onto an imaging receiving surface. Accordingly, the ink supply system includes a phase change ink melting and control apparatus (not shown) for melting or phase changing the solid form of the phase change ink into a liquid form. The phase change ink melting temperature may be any temperature that is capable of melting solid phase change ink into liquid or molten form. In one embodiment, the phase change ink melting temperate is approximately 100° C. to 140° C. In alternative embodiments, however, the imaging device may be configured to use any suitable marking material or ink including, for example, aqueous ink, oil-based ink, UV curable ink, or the like. 
         [0023]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the printhead system  30  is configured to use an indirect marking process in which the printheads  22  are arranged to deposit ink onto an intermediate imaging member  26 , referred to as an imaging drum. A second roller  28 , also referred to as a transfer or transfix roller, is loaded against the surface of drum  26  to form a nip  34  through which the media  14  is fed in timed registration with the ink images deposited thereon by the printheads. Pressure, and in some cases heat, in the nip  34  causes the ink to be transferred from the drum  26  and fixed to the media  14 . 
         [0024]    In alternative embodiments, the printhead system  30  may be configured to utilize a direct marking process as shown in  FIG. 2 . In a direct marking process, the printheads of the printhead system  30  are arranged to deposit ink directly onto the media  14 . The printed media is then guided to a spreading assembly  25  that includes an image side roller, also referred to as a spreader drum,  26 ′ and a second roller  28 , also referred to as a pressure roller, that are arranged to form a nip  34 ′ through which the media is fed. Similar to nip  34  of  FIG. 1 , the nip  34 ′ is configured to apply pressure, and in some cases heat, to the ink in order to fix the ink to the media  14 . The nip  34 ′ is also configured to spread out the drops of ink on the media so that spaces between adjacent drops are filled and image solids become uniform. 
         [0025]    In both the direct and indirect printing process, release agent is applied to the surface of the roller, or drum, which contacts ink in the nip to prevent ink from adhering or offsetting to the image side roller of the nip. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , release agent is applied to the imaging drum  26 , and, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , release agent is applied to the spreader drum  26 ′. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “image side drum  26 ” or “image side roller  26 ” shall be used to refer to both the imaging drum  26  of the  FIG. 1  and the spreader drum  26 ′ of  FIG. 2 , and the nip  34  shall be used to refer to both the nip  34  of  FIG. 1  and the nip  34 ′ of  FIG. 2 . In general, the terms “image side drum” and “image side roller” refer to the roller, or drum, that contacts unfixed ink as the media is fed through the nip  34 ,  34 ′. The term “nip” is defined as the contact region between the image side drum, the second roller, print media, and ink. 
         [0026]    As mentioned, previously known drum maintenance systems are required to be positioned with the metering blade at or near the bottom of the image side roller to allow gravity to facilitate transport of excess release agent from the surface of the drum to a collection reservoir. In some cases, however, the area at or near the bottom of the image side roller  26  may not be available for the placement of a metering blade or other components of the drum maintenance system. For example, some phase change ink printers are configured to bring ink and media temperatures to a uniform target temperature or within a target temperature range prior to the ink and media entering the nip  34 . A method that may be used to substantially equalize ink and web temperatures in a continuous web printer involves wrapping the media web  14  partially around the image side drum  26  prior to the media  14  reaching and being fed through the nip  34 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . In the system of  FIG. 3 , the image side drum  26  is heated to a predetermined operating temperature that enables conductive heat transference to occur between the media  14  (and any ink thereon) and the image side roller  26  to bring the temperatures of the web and ink toward the operating temperature of the image side roller  26 . 
         [0027]    The areas around the circumference of the drum  26  that are available for the placement of a drum maintenance system are limited to the areas that are not wrapped, or covered, by the media  14 . In some cases, the configuration of a printer may require that the media  14  be wrapped around a lower or bottom portion of the image side roller  26  as depicted in  FIG. 3  leaving only the upper portion P of the drum  26  available for the positioning of a drum maintenance system. Previously known drum maintenance systems, however, are not capable of adequately controlling the release agent applied to the surface of the drum if the metering blade is located at an upper, or peak, location P around the circumference of the drum. As used herein, the term “peak” refers to positions around the circumference of the image side roller  26  that are at or near the uppermost portion of the circumference of the roller in the vertical direction. 
         [0028]    As an alternative to previously known drum maintenance systems that are limited to a bottom or lower positioning with respect to the image side drum, the present disclosure is directed to a drum maintenance system that enables the drum maintenance system, and in particular, the metering blade of the drum maintenance system to be arranged at a peak position P with respect to circumference of the image side roller  26 . An embodiment of a peak position drum maintenance system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As depicted, the peak position drum maintenance system  100  includes an applicator  104  for distributing release agent to the surface of the image side roller  26 , and a metering blade  108  for metering the release agent applied to the surface of the drum  26  to a desired thickness. As depicted, each of the applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  are arranged at or near the peak P of the image side drum  26 . Any suitable type of applicator  104  may be used to apply release agent to the drum surface. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the applicator  104  comprises a roller including an absorbent material, such as extruded, salt-leached, polyurethane foam, although any suitable material may be used. The absorbent material is saturated with release agent to serve as a release agent delivery layer  106  for the applicator  104 . Release agent may be provided to the delivery layer  106  of the roller  104  in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the delivery layer surrounds a hollow, cylindrical tube (not shown) that contains a quantity of release agent. The tube includes openings, such as perforations, that allow the release agent to escape the tube to saturate the delivery layer. The tube may comprise, for example, a plastic, blow-molded bottle, or similar type of container, although any suitable material and/or construction for the tube may be used. 
         [0030]    The foam delivery layer  106  of the applicator  104  is positioned in contact with the surface  114  of the image side drum so that, as the image side drum rotates in direction  110 , the applicator  104  is driven to rotate in the opposite direction  112  of the drum by frictional contact with the drum surface  114 . The point of contact between the delivery layer and the drum surface  114  continuously moves so that a fresh area of the delivery layer  106  is continuously contacting the drum surface  114  to apply the release agent thereto. The metering blade  108  is positioned to meter the release agent applied to the drum surface  114  to a desired thickness. The metering blade  108  may be formed of an elastomeric material such as urethane supported on an elongated metal support bracket (not shown) although any suitable configuration for the metering blade may be used. The applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  may be operably supported adjacent to the drum surface  114  in any suitable manner. In embodiments, the applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  may be provided in a housing or frame  113  ( FIG. 8 ) that enables at least the applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  of the peak position drum maintenance system  100  to installed and removed from the printer as a single unit. 
         [0031]    In operation, the release agent deposited onto the drum surface  114  by the applicator  104  builds up in front of the metering blade  108  to form what may be referred to as an “oil bar.” The tip of the metering blade  108  is suitably positioned with respect to the drum surface  114  to spread the “oil bar” of release agent onto the drum surface  114  so that a layer of release agent having a substantially uniform thickness covers at least the area of the drum surface that contacts the media. In previously known drum maintenance systems, the metering blade was positioned at a lower portion of the drum above a catch pan or tub so that excess release agent from the oil bar diverted from the drum surface by the blade  108  may run down the blade  108  and/or drip into the catch pan. The metering blade  108  (and the applicator) in the peak position drum maintenance system, however, is positioned at an upper portion of the drum with the main body of the metering blade being substantially above the oil bar. Consequently, excess release agent from the oil bar cannot be diverted down the body of the metering blade to a catch pan or similar structure when the metering blade is at a peak position of the drum. 
         [0032]    To enable excess release agent, as well as paper debris and other contaminants, to be diverted from the drum surface  114  when the metering blade  108  is located at a peak position of the drum, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the image side drum  26  is provided having an axial length L ( FIG. 5 ) that is greater than the width of the print media with which it is used. The greater axial length L of the drum  26  enables a portion of the axial length L of the drum (corresponding to the width of the media) to be used for contacting the media in the nip  34  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Because the length L of the drum  26  is greater than the width of the media, the portions of the drum that extend beyond the width of the media may be used as release agent control surfaces for the peak position drum maintenance system  100  without interfering or contaminating the media area of the drum  26 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the image side drum  26  for use with the peak position drum maintenance system  100  has an axial length L that defines a media contact surface, or area,  120  in a central or intermediate portion of axial length L of the drum  26 . As used herein, terms such as “surface,” “area,” and “region” used in reference to a rotating cylindrical member, such as image side drum  26 , refers to a cylindrical portion of the drum between two points along the axial length of the drum. For example, a surface or area of the axial length of the drum may be thought of as the cylindrical portion of the drum located between two spaced apart parallel planes arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum. 
         [0033]    The media contact surface  120  has a length S that is at least as wide as the print media of the printer. In use, the drum  26  is suitably arranged in the printer so that the media contact surface  120  of the drum  26  is arranged in the path of the media  14  in the printer. The portions  124  of the axial length L of the drum  26  that extend beyond the media contact surface  120  at each end of the drum  26  do not contact media during operation which allows these areas  124  to serve as release agent collection regions, or surfaces,  124  for the peak position drum maintenance system  100 . The drum  26  may extend beyond the width of the media contact surface  120  any suitable distance at each end to provide the release agent collection surfaces  124 . The applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  each have a longitudinal dimension that enables the applicator  104  and metering blade  108  to extend across the media contact surface  120  of the drum  26 . The lengths of the applicator  104  and metering blade  108  enable the applicator  104  and the metering blade  108  to deposit and meter, respectively, release agent across the entire media contact surface  120  of the drum. 
         [0034]    The ends of the metering blade  108  extend to or slightly into the release agent collection regions  124 . In operation, as the metering blade  108  meters a layer of release agent onto the media contact surface  120 , excess release agent builds up in front of the blade  108  and begins to be moved or pushed axially along the media contact surface  120  of the drum in front of the metering blade  108  until the excess release agent passes beyond the ends of the blade into the release agent collection regions  124  at either side of the media contact surface  120 . A collection reservoir  128  is positioned underneath the image side drum  26  substantially below the collection region  124  at each end of the drum  26 . Once the excess release agent and any debris or contaminants therein is diverted to the collection surfaces, gravity draws the diverted release down to the bottom of the drum  26  where it may then fall into the collection reservoirs  128  positioned below the drum  126 . A collection reservoir  128  may comprise any suitable type of structure, such as a tub or trough, which is capable of catching, or otherwise receiving, the release agent that drops from the drum surface. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a separate collection reservoir  128  is positioned under each end of the drum below the collection regions  124 . In alternative embodiments, a single reservoir that extends the full length of the drum may be used. In addition, in some embodiments, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , cleaning blades  138 , or similar types of devices, may be positioned at the bottom of the drum  26  in the collection regions to wipe or scrape the diverted release agent, and any debris, from the drum surface. Cleaning blades  138  may be positioned above the collection reservoirs  128  so that release agent and debris may be guided down the cleaning blade  138  into the reservoir  128 . 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the collection regions  124  of the drum may be provided with surface features that facilitate the flow of the diverted release agent toward the bottom of the drum in the collection region while substantially preventing the diverted release agent from travelling back into the media contact surface  120  of the drum. For example, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the collection regions  124  are provided with annular grooves, or troughs,  134  that may be used to at least partially trap or confine the diverted release agent to the collection regions  124  as well as guide the release agent to a suitable position above the collection reservoirs  128 . As used herein, the terms “annular groove” and “annular trough” refer to a continuous recess or indentation in the surface of the drum having a width dimension W that follows the axis A of the drum and a depth dimension D that extends toward the axis of rotation the drum. The width W and depth D dimensions of the grooves, or troughs, may have any suitable magnitude that facilitates the movement of the release agent to the lower portion of the drum and prevents the release agent from moving toward the media contact surface  120 . A single groove  134  is shown in the collection regions  124  at each end of the drum. In alternative embodiments, more than one groove  134  may be provided in each collection region  134 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, to prevent the release agent that has been diverted to the collection surfaces  124  from being ejected from the surface of the drum due to centrifugal force as the drum rotates, shield structures  140  may be provided in the collection regions  124  that follow the curvature of the drum surface as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Although not visible in  FIG. 6 , a separate shield  140  may be provided at each end of the drum  26  that surrounds the corresponding collection region  124 . Each shield  140  is open at the bottom above the collection reservoirs  128  to enable release agent to drop into the reservoirs. In embodiments, the shields  140  may be provided separately from the collection reservoirs or provided as integral parts of the collection reservoirs. The shield may comprise a single component or be made up of multiple assembled components. In addition, shields may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal, and may have any suitable arrangement with respect to the drum surface that enables the shields to prevent release agent and debris from being ejected from the drum surface in the collection surfaces and contaminate other printer components. 
         [0037]    One issue that may be faced in utilizing the peak position drum maintenance system described above is the management of the oil bars (and any debris or contaminants therein) in front of the metering blade when the printer is not being operated. Leftover oil bars may not be able to be adequately metered by the metering blade when the system is restarted. In addition, the oil bars may run down the drum surface and drip down onto printer components below the media contact surface of the drum. A number of suitable methods and/or devices may be used to remove or reduce the size of the oil bars during periods of inactivity of the printer. One method that may be used to mitigate the effects of oil bars during down times is to use an “air knife,” as they are known in the art. An air knife (not shown) includes high velocity impinging air jets that may be used to distribute the oil bar over the drum surface so that there was no visible oil bar. 
         [0038]    The collection reservoirs  128  of the peak position drum maintenance system  100  are capable of holding a limited amount of the diverted release agent. In one embodiment, the collection reservoirs are configured to be removed from the printer so that the reservoirs may be emptied and reinstalled in the printer. Alternatively, a recycling system (not shown) may be provided that is configured to filter the release agent collected in the reservoirs and to return the filtered release agent to the applicator for reuse. 
         [0039]    The embodiments and features of the peak position drum maintenance described above enable release agent to be applied and metered to the drum surface at upper portions of the circumference of the image side drum while still providing for control and capture of release agent and/or debris diverted from the drum surface by the metering blade. It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems, applications or methods. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.