PNEUMATIC SHEET REGISTRATION AND FIXING WITH VECTORED AIR FLOW

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method for registering and fixing a sheet of substrate media transferred onto a movable platen in a printing system.SOLUTION: A pneumatic table 10 for registering and fixing thereon a sheet of substrate media 5 for handling in a printing system includes a media platen having a foraminous upper surface. A first reversible air blower is in fluid communication with the media platen 100 and selectively generates at least one of a positive airflow and a negative airflow through the foraminous upper surface 102. The positive airflow forms a gaseous layer of air between the foraminous upper surface and the substrate media sheet. The negative airflow encourages the substrate media sheet to remain fixed and engaged upon the foraminous upper surface. A registration wall extends along at least one edge of the foraminous upper surface. A sheet biasing element includes a directionally vectored positive airflow, and selectively applies a biasing force to the substrate media sheet, encouraging movement of the substrate media sheet across the foraminous upper surface for engaging the substrate media sheet with the registration wall.