Patent ID: 8135321

Claim:
An apparatus useful for printing, comprising: a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a gas source; a rotary valve including a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, a gas outlet and a rotor including a gas passage; a gas knife in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the rotary valve, the gas knife being adapted to emit gas onto the second surface downstream from the nip; and a motor coupled to the rotor; wherein the motor is operable to rotate the rotor to selectively position the rotary valve in at least a first open position in which the gas passage is in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet, gas is supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife which emits the gas having a first pressure onto the second surface, and a closed position in which the gas passage is not in fluid communication with the gas inlet and gas outlet and gas is not supplied from the rotary valve to the gas knife.