| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 334 548 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
21.03.1990 Bulletin 1990/12 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
27.09.1989 Bulletin 1989/39 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 15.03.1989 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)4: B41J 25/308 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE FR GB |
| (30) |
Priority: |
21.03.1988 US 170507
|
| (71) |
Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company |
|
Palo Alto,
California 94304 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Vincent, Kent D.
Cupertino, CA 95014 (US)
- Ertel, John P.
Portoloa Valley CA 94025 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Williams, John Francis et al |
|
WILLIAMS, POWELL & ASSOCIATES
34 Tavistock Street
London WC2E 7PB
London WC2E 7PB (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Device to assure paper flatness and pen-to-paper spacing during printing |
(57) A printer includes an inkjet pen (11) to eject ink drops for printing on the surface
of a sheet (15), a carriage (13) mounted to carry the pen (11) back and forth on the
sheet (15), and a skid-like spacer (21,31) to ride upon the printed surface. The spacer
(21,31) maintains a preselected spacing between the pen (11) and the printed surface
and, also, maintains paper flatness at the localized area of printing.