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:
Oct. 06, 1992
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1991
William D Goodwin, Rochester, NY (US);
Stanley W Stephenson, Spencerport, NY (US);
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);
Abstract
A printing mechanism such as a thermal printer includes a rotatable cylindrical platen having a circumference which is smaller than the printing length of a complete image to be reproduced on a print medium, and at least one pinch roller. The platen has a width which is wider than a width of the print medium. The platen includes a rigid central longitudinally-disposed shaft, a cylindrical elastomeric layer formed around a central logitudinal section of the shaft, and first and second opposing cyclindrical registration members. The first and second registration members are fixedly coupled to the shaft and engage a first and a second end of the elastomeric layer, respectively, so that the shaft, layer, and members rotate together. Each pinch roller is formed of a rigid material and is disposed longitudinally to the platen. Each pinch roller is forced radially towards the platen by a suitable forcing means to engage (a) the registration members in the absence of a print medium between the pinch roller and the elastomeric layer, and (b) just engage the surface of the print medium opposite the elastomeric layer during a printing process.