Paper preconditioning heater for ink-jet printer
US5406321A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J11/0024
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. To accommodate placement of both input and output media trays on the same side of the printer housing for operator convenience, a paper path with a direction reversal is employed. A paper preconditioning preheater with a curved surface and a multi-purpose paper path component accomplish the direction reversal. As the print medium is driven through the paper path, it contacts the preheater. The preheating dries and shrinks the paper to condition it for the printing operation. The preheater is a thin flexible film carrying heating elements, and is suspended in air, to provide extremely low thermal mass and eliminate the need for long warmup times. The preheater defines a first, hotter, preheating area adjacent the printing area, and a second, cooler, preheating area separated from the printing area by the first preheating area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.