Hardcopy apparatus and method for holding down media
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorFernando Juan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hardcopy apparatus includes a media drive roller and an independent media holddown unit. Such holddown unit includes a platen, on which a print zone is defined, and a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure for holding at least a portion of a medium substantially flat on the print zone. The platen is extending towards, and partially overlapping, the drive roller. In addition, a method for holding a medium to be printed on substantially flat over a print zone of a hardcopy apparatus includes indexing the medium over the print zone, generating a negative pressure capable of holding a portion of the medium flat on the print zone, extending the negative pressure generated to the print zone, to achieve a substantially uniform holding force over the print zone.
Claims15
A hardcopy apparatus comprising a media drive roller and a media holddown unit comprising a platen, on which a print zone is defined, and a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure for holding at least a portion of a medium substantially flat on said print zone, said platen extending towards, and partially overlapping, said drive roller, said platen comprising a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of grooves extending toward said drive roller, wherein said plurality of first apertures are located within said grooves.
A method for holding at least a portion of a medium to be printed on substantially flat over a print zone of a hardcopy apparatus comprising the following steps:
- indexing the medium over said print zone;
- generating a negative pressure via at least one aperture capable of holding a portion of the medium substantially flat on the print zone;
- extending the negative pressure generated to the print zone via a groove in which said aperture is located, in order to achieve a substantially uniform holding force over the print zone.
A hardcopy apparatus comprising a media drive roller and a media holddown unit that is independent of said drive roller, such holddown unit comprising a platen, on which a print zone is defined, and a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure for holding at least a portion of a medium substantially flat on said print zone, said platen extending towards, and partially overlapping, said drive roller, said platen comprising a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of grooves extending toward said roller, and wherein said first apertures and a vacuum channel connect said vacuum source to atmosphere, wherein said plurality of first apertures are located within said grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.