Abstract: A printer mechanism to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing is described. The preferred embodiment of the mechanism includes a printhead and an adjacent platen. The platen includes differentially yieldable structure adapted to resiliently support the print medium thereby to inhibit uncontrolled bending of the print medium during printing. The yieldable structure preferably extend along a line generally perpendicular to a direction of feed of the print medium. The platen may further include a transition region located adjacent the yieldable structure, the transition region adapted to facilitate smooth transition of the leading edge of the print medium onto the yieldable structure.

Abstract: A printer mechanism to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing is described. The preferred embodiment of the mechanism includes a printhead and an adjacent platen, the printhead and the platen defining a print zone therebetween. The platen includes ribs adapted for contacting a lower surface of the print medium such that the print medium bends downwardly between the ribs, thereby reducing uncontrolled bending of the print medium in the print zone. The ribs preferably extend parallel to a direction of travel of the print medium and may be positioned adjacent a transition zone, the transition zone facilitating a smooth transition of a leading edge of the print medium onto the ribs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for use in an ink-jet printer having a printhead and an opposing platen capable of movement toward and away from the printer's printhead to define a record media gap therebetween. The system is effective to selectively restrict movement of a printer's platen to effect adjustment of the record media gap upon detection of record media having a characteristic which warrants such a change. The system is provided with a detector capable of recognizing the characteristic, and with a stop mechanism which acts in concert with the detector to effect the desired change. In its nominal configuration, the stop mechanism limits movement of the platen at a first position so as to define a first record media gap. However, upon detection of record media having the characteristic, the stop mechanism is automatically reconfigured so as to allow movement of the platen to a second position defining a second record media gap.