Web inkjet printing method and apparatus using an air bar

摘要

In a method and apparatus for duplex inkjet printing on a web medium, a web medium is guided along an S-form transport path having generally horizontal top, middle and bottom spans and two turns linking the spans. One inkjet printhead is located to print onto a one surface of the web at the middle span and another inkjet printhead is located to print onto the opposite surface of the web at one of the other spans. To protect the printed surfaces before they are dried at least one of the turns in the S-form path is effected using an air bar to hold the printed web surfaces away from hard equipment surfaces.

主权项

1. Duplex inkjet printing apparatus comprising a transport mechanism for transporting a web medium along a transport path, the transport path having a generally S-form section having generally horizontal top, middle and bottom spans and turns linking adjacent spans, a first inkjet printhead at the top span for downward printing onto one surface of the web medium, a second printhead at the central span for downward printing onto the other surface of the web, the turn between the central span and the bottom span using a first air bar, the transport path having a generally vertical section downstream of the bottom span with a turn using a second air bar linking the bottom span and the generally vertical section, and a single web drying unit having radiant drying elements positioned to dry both surfaces of the web at the generally vertical section.