Adjustable pen-to-paper spacing mechanism

Details Adjustable pen-to-paper spacing mechanism Adjustable pen-to-paper spacing mechanism

2002-04-30

2004-03-16

Gordon, Raquel Yvette (Department: 2853)

Incremental printing of symbolic information

Ink jet

Controller

Reexamination Certificate

active

06705693

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates generally to inkjet printers, and in particular to techniques for adjusting a pen-to-paper spacing.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, in this application a pen-to-paper spacing (PPS) is defined as the distance between a cartridge
103
of an inkjet printer and a bottom surface
118
of a media sheet
117
which is in a print zone
116
and which is supported by a platen
120
for printing. The PPS and the thickness of the media sheet
117
determine the distance between the cartridge
103
and an upper surface
119
of the media sheet
117
. Maintaining a suitable distance between the cartridge
103
and the upper surface
119
is important to achieve the best image quality possible.
Normally, when the printer is manufactured, the PPS is set and fixed at a nominal value based upon a default medium having a default thickness. Nevertheless, the distance between the cartridge
103
and the upper surface
119
of the media sheet
117
may vary as media of various thicknesses are used.
Especially, when a medium thicker than the default medium is used, and if the PPS remains unchanged, the distance between the cartridge
103
and the upper surface
119
of the media sheet
117
can be relatively close. Thus, there is the possibility of the cartridge
103
contacting the upper surface
118
of the media sheet
117
during printing. This phenomenon may cause the media sheet
117
to be smeared.
However, when a medium thinner than the default medium is used and if the PPS remains unchanged, the distance between the cartridge
103
and the upper surface
119
of the media sheet
117
can be relatively far. This may affect the accurate placement of ink dots when ink drops are ejected onto the medium and consequently the printing quality as well.
Therefore, there is a need for adjusting the PPS distance in an inkjet printer.
SUMMARY
According to a first embodiment of the invention, an inkjet printer includes a printer frame structure, a carriage movable in the printer frame structure for movement across a print zone during printing operations, and at least one cartridge mounted on the carriage for printing on a medium in the print zone. The printer further includes means for driving the cartridge between a first position in which the printer prints at a first PPS measured from a bottom surface of the medium, and a second position in which the printer prints at a second PPS.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, an inkjet printer for printing on a medium in a print zone includes a printer frame structure, a first path and a second path defined in the printer frame structure, and a carriage movable in the printer frame structure for movement across the print zone during printing operations. The carriage has a first slider for moving along one of the first and the second paths. Further more, the printer prints at a first PPS distanced from a bottom surface of the medium as the first slider moves along the first path, while prints at a second PPS distanced from said bottom surface as the first slider moves along the second path.
In an aspect of the invention, the printer includes at least one cartridge mounted on the carriage. The printer also includes means located below the cartridge for driving the cartridge relative to the printer frame structure in a direction vertical to the medium from a first position in which the printer prints at the first PPS to a second position in which the printer prints at the second PPS.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, an inkjet printer for printing on a medium in a print zone includes a printer frame structure, a carriage movable in the printer frame structure for movement across the print zone during printing operations. The carriage includes a first slider and a second slider disposed at the front and back of the carriage respectively. The printer also includes a first rail mounted on the printer frame structure and disposed at the front of the carriage for the first slider to move along with. The first rail determines a first pen-to-paper spacing distanced from a bottom surface of the medium at which spacing the printer prints as the first slider moves along the first rail. The printer further has a second rail mounted on the printer frame structure and disposed at the back of the carriage for the second slider to move along with. The second rail determines a second pen-to-paper spacing distanced from said bottom surface at which spacing the printer prints as the second slider moves along the second rail
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5187497 (1993-02-01), Hirano et al.
patent: 5414453 (1995-05-01), Rhoads et al.

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