1. A printing system comprising:
a media feed assembly for feeding different sizes of media along a media path, the media path having a width corresponding to a maximum width of media that can be printed by the printing system;
a printhead assembly positioned on a first side of the media path and spanning the width of the media path;
an aerosol collection duct with an opening on the first side of the media path; and,
a spittoon system positioned on a second side of the media path opposing the first side; wherein,
the printhead assembly is configured to eject non-printing ink drops from any section not required to print media that is less than the maximum width, and the spittoon system is configured to collect the non-printing ink drops.
2. The printing system according to claim 1 wherein the media feed assembly feeds media along the media path in a media feed direction and the printhead assembly has a plurality of printheads arranged into a group of leading printheads and a group of trailing printheads, the leading printheads being upstream of the trailing printheads with respect to the media feed direction.
3. The printing system according to claim 2 wherein the opening of the aerosol collection duct is downstream of the trailing printheads.
4. The printing system according to claim 3 wherein the spittoon system is at least one service module operating in a spittoon mode.
5. The printing system according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of the service modules, one of the service modules being provided for each of the printheads respectively wherein during use, any of the printheads not fully required to print media that is less than the maximum width, have the corresponding service module operating in the spittoon mode.
6. The printing system according to claim 5 wherein the service modules are configured to operate in a platen mode when all the corresponding printhead is printing the media.
7. The printing system according to claim 5 wherein the service modules are independently operable.
8. The printing system according to claim 7 wherein the printhead assembly has a plurality of printheads positioned to span the media path, each of the service modules configured to service one of the printheads respectively.
9. The printing system according to claim 8 further comprising a platen having an apertured platen face, wherein the service modules are positioned for accessing the printheads through the apertured platen face.
10. The printing system according to claim 9 wherein the apertured platen face has an aperture for each one of the plurality of service modules respectively.
11. The printing system according to claim 10 wherein one of the modes is a capping mode for use when the printhead corresponding to the service module is inactive.
12. The printing system according to claim 10 wherein one of the modes is a priming mode for use when the printhead corresponding to the service module is a newly installed replacement printhead.
13. The printing system according to claim 12 wherein the service modules that do not correspond to the newly installed replacement printhead are configured to operate in the capping mode while the newly installed replacement printhead is primed.
14. The printing system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a drive roller configured to engage and push media into a print zone; and,
a movable media engagement assembly configured to engage one side of the media and pull the media while the drive roller remains engaged with the media.
15. The printing system according to claim 14 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.
16. The printing system according to claim 15 wherein the movable media engagement assembly has a vacuum belt configured to receive the media from the print zone.
17. The printing system according to claim 16 wherein the drive roller is configured to control a media translation speed until the media disengages from the drive roller.
18. The printing system according to claim 17 wherein the vacuum belt is configured to control the media transport speed subsequent to disengagement of the media from the drive roller.
19. The printing system according to claim 9 further comprising a media encoder positioned in the platen and configured to produce timing signals for operating the printhead assembly.
20. The printing system according to claim 16 further comprising a scanner adjacent the vacuum belt to capture information from the media for feedback control of the pagewidth printhead assembly.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A restraining net launching device comprising:
a planar restraining net which is tightly packed into a cylindrical shape having an outside portion, said restraining net when planar including a perimeter which is heavier than a remainder of said net;
a launcher in which said packed net is loaded and from which said packed net is launched along a longitudinal axis of said launcher, said launcher including rifling which engages the outside portion of said packed net during launching; and
a source of propelling gas for propelling said tightly packed restraining net out of said launcher during launching such that the rifling of said launcher engaging the outside portion causes said tightly packed restraining net to rotate about the longitudinal axis and unfurl after exiting said launcher with the heavier perimeter radially outermost.
2. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 1:
wherein said launcher includes
a) an elongate launch cup in which said packed net is located, said launch cup including a rear wall, an open front, an elongate barrel wall extending between said rear wall and said open front, and rifling along an interior surface of said barrel wall, and
b) a hollow extension projecting from the rear wall of said launch cup; and
wherein said source of propelling gas is a muzzle to which said extension of said launch cup is attached for transferring propelling gas formed in said muzzle into an area adjacent the rear wall of said launch cup.
3. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said launcher further includes a gas seal member in said launch cup located between said packed net and said rear wall of said launch cup.
4. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 1:
wherein said launcher includes
a) a gun barrel having a rifled bore and a rear breech, and
b) a cartridge case in which said packed net is located and which is received in said breech said cartridge case, said cartridge case including a rear wall and an open front; and
wherein said source of propelling gas is a charge provided in said cartridge case between said packed net and said rear wall.
5. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said launcher further includes a gas seal member located between said packed net and said charge.
6. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cartridge case further includes a protective cap which covers the open front thereof.
7. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 1:
wherein said launcher includes
a) a gun barrel having a smooth bore and a rear breech, and
b) a cartridge case in which said packed net is located and which is received in said breech, said cartridge case including a rear wall, an open front, and rifling along an interior wall of said cartridge case between said rear wall and said open front; and
wherein said source of propelling gas is a charge provided in said cartridge case between said packed net and said rear wall.
8. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said launcher further includes a gas seal member located between said packed net and said charge.
9. A restraining net launching device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cartridge case further includes a protective cap which covers the open front thereof.