(19)
(11) EP 0 958 923 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.08.2000 Bulletin 2000/32

(43) Date of publication A2:
24.11.1999 Bulletin 1999/47

(21) Application number: 99303954.4

(22) Date of filing: 21.05.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41J 2/01, B41J 3/28, B41J 19/20
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 21.05.1998 KR 1842398

(71) Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
Suwon-city, Kyounggi-do 441-742 (KR)

(72) Inventor:
  • Kim, Dong Hun, 812-1804, Hanshin Apt.
    Suwon, Kyonggido (KR)

(74) Representative: Tunstall, Christopher Stephen et al
Harrison Goddard Foote Fountain Precinct
Balm Green, Sheffield S1 1RZ
Balm Green, Sheffield S1 1RZ (GB)

   


(54) Multipurpose printing apparatus


(57) A multipurpose printing apparatus is described, consisting of a base frame (32) and a user-movable main frame (50) including a printhead. A position detector (22) detects the position of the printhead relative to the base frame and the printing apparatus control means controls the printhead to print output data corresponding to the position detected by the position detector. The position detector includes a rotational gear (36) on the main frame which engages a linear gear (31) on the base frame, a circular encoder (37) which is coupled to the rotational gear and a sensor element (39) for detecting the degree of rotation of the circular encoder. The apparatus is useful for printing on a variety of objects.






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