Abstract: Dye-sublimation printers and methods are disclosed for porous substrates or for polyester-coated substrates. In an example the device comprises a substrate path, a printhead, over a print zone of the substrate path, to transfer a print fluid on the substrate; a narrow band radiation source, over a sublimation zone of the substrate path to sublimate a portion of the transferred print fluid to form an image on the substrate; and an advancing mechanism, to transfer the substrate from the print zone to the sublimation zone.

Abstract: In one example, a platen for supporting a print substrate includes multiple support surfaces that together define the full extent of a substrate support area of the platen. Each support surface is oriented parallel to other support surfaces along a line that is oblique to a direction the print substrate is to pass over the support surfaces when the platen is in use in a printer or other liquid dispenser.

Abstract: In one example, a platen for supporting a print substrate includes multiple support surfaces that together define the full extent of a substrate support area of the platen. Each support surface is oriented parallel to other support surfaces along a line that is oblique to a direction the print substrate is to pass over the support surfaces when the platen is in use in a printer or other liquid dispenser.

Abstract: In printing apparatus, when printing near the end of a print media with a printhead having nozzles, a controller causes a print drive to produce a large print media advance movement together with the use of a different group of nozzles from that used for the rest of the print media. This avoids printing art effects as the print media leaves a pinch in a media feed. In one embodiment the number of nozzles used for printing in the end region is reduced, and the centre of the group of nozzles is simultaneously shifted in the direction of print media advance. The size of the print media advance is also changed in the end region. The printing mask used is also changed.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, in which normal printing occurs in a print zone through which a print media is moved by an input feed roller arrangement and an output overdrive roller arrangement, the desired speed of the print media is maintained during bleed printing in the margin of the print media by altering the drive parameters of at least one of the roller arrangements.

Abstract: In printing apparatus, when printing near the end of a print media with a printhead having nozzles, a controller causes a print drive to produce a large print media advance movement together with the use of a different group of nozzles from that used for the rest of the print media. This avoids printing artefacts as the print media leaves a pinch in a media feed. In one embodiment the number of nozzles used for printing in the end region is reduced, and the center of the group of nozzles is simultaneously shifted in the direction of print media advance. The size of the print media advance is also changed in the end region. The printing mask used is also changed.

Abstract: A media holddown device a plastics vacuum guide attached to a sheet metal vacuum beam, the guide includes vacuum chambers in communication with the beam through openings to control the negative pressures applied to media of varying widths by a fan. Dividing walls are provided between the chambers to maintain the value of the negative pressure larger than a predetermined value, especially for media with conventional widths. An intermediate wall divides the guide into front and rear chambers to increase the control of media leading edges. The number, size and pattern of arrangement of openings are selected to produce desired air flow characteristics.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, in which normal printing occurs in a print zone through which a print media is moved by an input feed roller arrangement and an output overdrive roller arrangement, the desired speed of the print media is maintained during bleed printing in the margin of the print media by altering the drive parameters of at least one of the roller arrangements.

Abstract: A printer vacuum guide member of plastics material, attached to a printer chassis of metal so as to allow thermal movements, has flexible limbs which extend from walls near the ends of the member to attachment points for receiving fixing screws. The member is fixedly attached to the chassis at points at a central location. To further reduce the effects of thermal expansion, the guide member may be sub-divided into separate component parts along its length.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a holddown device for a medium lying on a platen, said device comprising first cockle-control means which in a medium output zone downstream of the print zone control an expansion of the medium to be in the form of a wave defined by a plurality of bubbles and substantially adapted in frequency to a ridged surface of the supporting platen; the holddown device may comprise second cockle-control means which control an expansion of the medium in the print zone to be in the form of at least two parallel waves defined by a plurality of bubbles and alternated such that a downward bubble of one of the waves is adjacent to an upward bubble, or no bubble, of an adjacent wave in the direction (Y) of advance of the medium. The effects of cockle are improved without tensioning the medium downstream from the printing zone, and improving vertical banding.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a holddown device for a medium lying on a platen, said device comprising first cockle-control means which in a medium output zone downstream of the print zone control an expansion of the medium to be in the form of a wave defined by a plurality of bubbles and substantially adapted in frequency to a ridged surface of the supporting platen; the holddown device may comprise second cockle-control means which control an expansion of the medium in the print zone to be in the form of at least two parallel waves defined by a plurality of bubbles and alternated such that a downward bubble of one of the waves is adjacent to an upward bubble, or no bubble, of an adjacent wave in the direction (Y) of advance of the medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printing zone and a printhead for printing on a media having a printing side; the printing apparatus further comprises first media reference means arranged stationary within the apparatus and located upstream of said printhead in a direction of advance of the media through the apparatus. Said first media reference means engage the printing side of the media when the media is in a tensioned state in said printing zone and determine the position of said printing side of the media with respect to said printhead. The distance between the printhead and the printing side of the media is maintained for different thickness of the media being printed.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a holddown device for a medium lying on a platen, said device comprising first cockle-control means which in a medium output zone downstream of the print zone control an expansion of the medium to be in the form of a wave defined by a plurality of bubbles and substantially adapted in frequency to a ridged surface of the supporting platen; the holddown device may comprise second cockle-control means which control an expansion of the medium in the print zone to be in the form of at least two parallel waves defined by a plurality of bubbles and alternated such that a downward bubble of one of the waves is adjacent to an upward bubble, or no bubble, of an adjacent wave in the direction (Y) of advance of the medium. The effects of cockle are improved without tensioning the medium downstream from the printing zone, and improving vertical banding.

Abstract: A media holddown device a plastics vacuum guide attached to a sheet metal vacuum beam, the guide includes vacuum chambers in communication with the beam through openings to control the negative pressures applied to media of varying widths by a fan. Dividing walls are provided between the chambers to maintain the value of the negative pressure larger than a predetermined value, especially for media with conventional widths. An intermediate wall divides the guide into front and rear chambers to increase the control of media leading edges. The number, size and pattern of arrangement of openings are selected to produce desired air flow characteristics.

Abstract: A printer vacuum guide member of plastics material, attached to a printer chassis of metal so as to allow thermal movements, has flexible limbs which extend from walls near the ends of the member to attachment points for receiving fixing screws. The member is fixedly attached to the chassis at points at a central location. To further reduce the effects of thermal expansion, the guide member may be sub-divided into separate component parts along its length.

Abstract: The apparatus is provided with a holddown device for a medium lying on a platen, said device comprising first cockle-control means which in a medium output zone downstream of the print zone control an expansion of the medium to be in the form of a wave defined by a plurality of bubbles and substantially adapted in frequency to a ridged surface of the supporting platen; the holddown device may comprise second cockle-control means which control an expansion of the medium in the print zone to be in the form of at least two parallel waves defined by a plurality of bubbles and alternated such that a downward bubble of one of the waves is adjacent to an upward bubble, or no bubble, of an adjacent wave in the direction (Y) of advance of the medium.

Abstract: A cutter assembly which traverses across a media path to make a linear cut on the media includes a pair of cooperative rotary cutting blades. An upper rotary blade is mounted for passive rotation while a lower rotary blade is directly coupled to a lower drive wheel which engages the undersurface of a media guide member. The blades are slightly overlapping at their peripheral edges, with the lower blade in a fixed position, and the upper blade spring biased in an axial direction against the lower blade. An additional media-contacting wheel is mounted on the cutter assembly to be substantially vertically aligned with the lower drive wheel, and is spring biased downwardly toward the uppersurface of the media guide member in order to assure constant rotational engagement of the lower drive wheel with the media guide member during cutting.

Abstract: A removable rollfeed apparatus, adapted to be rigidly attached to a printer, holds a roll of media and is mountable on the underside of the printer. The attachment to the underside of the printer allows a desk-mountable printer to rest on the rollfeed apparatus and thus to be raised away from the desk. In an embodiment the rollfeed apparatus itself has feet which are utilized in place of any feet mounted directly on the printer and extends to the front of the printer so that the media shaft is held in front of and below the printer. Furthermore there is provided a printer having mounting positions on the underside of the printer for mounting i) feet on which the printer may rest on a desktop, ii) legs on which the printer may rest on a floor, and iii) rollfeed apparatus. This enables both desktop and freestanding printers to quickly and easily be configured with or without a rollfeed apparatus.

Abstract: A simplified technique and conversion kit allows a user to change a single cartridge monochrome printer into a multiple cartridge color printer without having to use the same slots in the carriage for different print cartridges. As part of the conversion, modifications are made to the carriage by manually removing a carriage cover, manually removing a service station cover for certain user-activated functions such as primer selectors, and adding a new ROM SIMM to the printer.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced-apart deflector guides are positioned over the input platen of a printer. They are suspended from an elongated media shield which extends laterally across an input media path such that a leading edge of media can easily fit under both the media shield and deflector guides. Each deflector guide has a plurality of downward facing surfaces such as ribs for directing the media toward an input slot defined by a top surface of the input platen, a terminal edge of the deflector guides, and a terminal edge of the media shield. The spaces between the deflector guides are wide enough to allow both hands to be placed directly on the media adjacent to or between two deflector guides for easy manual manipulation of a leading edge of the media into general alignment with the input slot where it can be gripped between the main pick roller and opposing pinch wheels for feeding into a print zone on the printer. The invention is applicable to both sheet feed and rollfeed printer devices.