RECIRCULATE AND FILTER AIR TO FORM AIR BARRIER IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes a substrate receiving member, a fluid applicator unit, and an air recirculator assembly. The substrate receiving member may selectively receive a substrate. The fluid applicator unit may selectively eject a first set of drops to the substrate received by the substrate receiving member in a print mode and a second set of drops in a maintenance mode. The air recirculater assembly may direct air to form an air barrier across the print zone to redirect at least one of aerosol and particulates from crossing through the air barrier and onto the substrate, to filter the at least one of the aerosol and particulates to form filtered air, and to form the air barrier with the filtered air.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a substrate receiving member that forms:
a plurality of positioning holes; anda recirculation opening for air to pass through the substrate receiving member; a fluid applicator unit to eject a set of drops to a substrate received by the substrate receiving member, the fluid applicator unit and the substrate receiving member to form a print zone; and an air recirculater assembly to:
suck air through the plurality of positioning holes to hold the substrate against a substrate receiving area;direct air to form an air barrier across the print zone, the air barrier to:
redirect at least one of aerosols or particulates from crossing through the air barrier and onto the substrate; and filter the at least one of the aerosols or the particulates to form filtered air.