The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 1990
Filed:
Jan. 27, 1989
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A mechanism for automatically adjusting the gap between the platen and print head of a printer includes a paper thickness lever detecting lever pivotably mounted on the printer base so that one end selectively contacts the surface of the platen. The opposite end of the lever contacts a pressure sensitive conductive member or adjusts the amount of light striking a photosensitive member of a paper thickness detector to generate an initial signal. After paper is fed onto the platen the lever contacts the surface of the paper and the paper thickness detector generates a second paper thickness signal corresponding to the different position of the lever. A carriage control circuit receives this signal and controls a print head carriage guide to adjust the relative position between the carriage and the platen to provide a suitable distance for printing.