Rotating platen member
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A platen assembly for a printer includes a chassis to which there is mounted a printhead and a pair of bearing moldings supported by the chassis and movable toward and away from the printhead. A platen body is rotatably mounted between the bearing moldings and includes a platen surface extending therealong, a capping device extending therealong and a blotting device also extending therealong. Each device is selectively aligned with the printhead upon rotation of the body between respective angular orientation. The body includes end caps having cam surfaces engageable with a projection affixed to the chassis to cause movement of the bearing members toward and away from the printhead during rotation of the body so that the body does not damage the printhead.
Claims13
A platen assembly for a printer, comprising:
- a chassis,
- a printhead mounted to the chassis,
- a pair of bearing, members supported by the chassis and movable toward and away from the printhead,
- a body rotatably mounted between said bearing members, the body having a platen surface extending therealong and a capping device extending therealong, the platen surface and capping device being selectively aligned with the printhead upon rotation of the body from one angular orientation to another, and
- means to move said bearing members toward and away from said printhead dung said rotation of the body so that the body does not damage the printhead.
A method of capping a printhead in a printer in which there is provided a chassis to which the printhead is mounted, the method comprising:
- providing a selectively rotatable platen body alongside the printhead, which platen body includes a platen surface extending therealong and a capping device also extending therealong,
- rotating the platen body from an orientation wherein the platen surface is aligned with the printhead to an orientation wherein the capping device is aligned with the printhead, and
- causing movement of the platen body away from the printhead during said rotation thereof such that the platen body does not damage the printhead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.