Patent ID: 8317315

Claim:
A recording apparatus that conducts image recording onto corrugated recording media within a print zone includes a system for applying a concaved pre-curl to the corrugated recording media and thereby maintaining a constant gap in the print zone between the image recording apparatus and the corrugated recording media, comprising: a transport module, said transport module including an arrangement for moving the corrugated recording media through said print zone, said corrugated recording media including an inner liner, a corrugated medium and an outer liner glued together at peaks of said corrugated medium; a down curl producing device positioned upstream of and removed from said transport module and beneath said corrugated recording media to apply heat directly to said inner liner of said corrugated recording media and thereby remove non-ink moisture from said inner liner of said corrugated recording media to produce a concave down curl in said corrugated recording media; and a mechanism positioned upstream of and removed from said transport module that applies non-ink moisture to said outer liner of said corrugated recording media when the moisture content of said corrugated recording media is below a predetermined amount to facilitate the concave down curl and thereby enhance acquisition of said corrugated recording media by said transport module by minimizing a gap between edges of said corrugated recording media and said transport module while simultaneously increasing vacuum pressure at said edges of said corrugated recording media.