Patent ID: 8087773

Claim:
An ink jet recording apparatus that conducts image recording by ejecting ink from a series of staggered rows of print head modules onto corrugated recording media within a print zone includes a system for maintaining depth of focus in the print zone between the print head modules and the corrugated recording media, comprising: a vacuum transport, said vacuum transport including a belt module having a belt support for supporting a movable continuous belt that conveys the recording media through the print zone and a vacuum plenum connected to a vacuum source, said vacuum plenum including a plenum plate covering said vacuum plenum and facing an underside portion of said continuous belt such that vacuum pressure can be applied to corrugated recording media carried by said belt module; an acquisition cylinder positioned immediately upstream of said series of staggered rows of print head modules and adapted to iron out process and cross process direction curl and assist said vacuum transport in acquiring control of the corrugated recording media; and a series of star wheels mounted between and beside each of said series of staggered rows of print head modules in a widthwise direction, said star wheels protruding below a print head plane of said staggered rows of print head modules in order to control the print head to media gap and to suppress process direction curl.