METHOD OF PRINTING USING INPUT ROLLER AND MOVABLE MEDIA ENGAGEMENT OUTPUT
A method of printing by translating media across a print zone at a first speed based upon the angular velocity of a drive roller and subsequently translating the media at a second speed determined by a movable media engagement assembly configured to engage one side of the media.
1 . A method of printing comprising the steps of:
translating media across a print zone at a first speed based upon the angular velocity of a drive roller; and,
subsequently translating the media at a second speed determined by a movable media engagement assembly configured to engage one side of the media.
2 . A method of printing according to claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring the drive roller to engage the media more strongly than the engagement between the media and the movable media engagement assembly such that there is slippage between the media and the movable media engagement assembly whenever the media is simultaneously engaged with the drive roller.
3 . A method of printing according to claim 2 wherein the movable media engagement assembly has an apertured surface that has a media engagement side and low pressure region at a side opposite the media engagement side.
4 . A method of printing according to claim 3 wherein the movable media engagement assembly has a vacuum belt configured to receive the print media from the print zone.
5 . A method of printing according to claim 4 wherein the second speed is based a belt speed of the vacuum belt.
6 . A method of printing according to claim 5 wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.
7 . A method of printing according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of providing a pagewidth printhead assembly in the print zone, wherein the pagewidth printhead assembly is a plurality of printheads positioned to be staggered with respect to each other in a direction transverse to a media feed direction.
8 . A method of printing according to claim 4 further comprising the step of positioning the drive roller, the print zone and the vacuum belt such that the media is engaged by the driver roller but not the vacuum belt during a first time period.
9 . A method of printing according to claim 8 further comprising the step of positioning the vacuum belt and the drive roller to simultaneously engage the media during a second time period.
10 . A method of printing according to claim 9 wherein the media slips relative to the vacuum belt during the second time period.
11 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of positioning the drive roller, the print zone and the vacuum belt such that the media is engaged by the vacuum belt but not the drive roller during a third time period.
12 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing a media sensor to generate timing signals for operative control of the pagewidth printhead assembly.
13 . A method of printing according to claim 12 further comprising the step of providing the timing signals during a first time interval, the first time interval spanning an end portion of the first time period, all the second time period, and an initial portion of the third time period.
14 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of rotating the vacuum belts at a second translation speed which is greater than the first translation speed.
15 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing a platen spaced from the pagewidth printhead assembly in the print zone wherein the media sensor is a media encoder embedded within the platen.
16 . A method of printing according to claim 15 further comprising the step of positioning the media encoder is positioned to engage the media proximate an upstream side of the print zone.
17 . A method of printing according to claim 16 wherein the platen is a vacuum platen.
18 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing a scanner adjacent the vacuum belt to capture information from the media for feedback control of the pagewidth printhead assembly.
19 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of using the information captured by the scanner to align printing from each of the printheads with that of adjacent printheads in the array.
20 . A method of printing according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing service modules in the vacuum platen, the service modules each corresponding to one of the printheads and configured to cross the media path to engage the printhead during a capping or servicing operation.