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:
May. 12, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 10, 1994
Paul R Erickson, Prior Lake, MN (US);
Brian W Kleve, Bloomington, MN (US);
Robert Schaffer, Canaan, NH (US);
Steven L Lidke, Chaska, MN (US);
Robert L Skubic, Chanhassen, MN (US);
Lasermaster Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Abstract
A hot melt ink jet printer capable of handling 54 inch media widths and printing at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch. The ink jet printer of the present invention includes a printing medium handling system for transporting the printing medium through the printer. The printing medium handling system includes a paper tensioning system for maintaining a constant tension in the printing medium as the printing medium is advanced past the print heads for imaging and also subsequently as the printing medium is post-image heated. A readable/writable memory unit accompanies the supply of printing medium and provides information indicative of the color characteristics, handling characteristics, and/or related characteristics associated with the printing medium for use by a controller at each important control point of the paper path. A controller, connected to the memory unit and responsive to the characteristics information, controls operation of the paper handling system throughout the entire imaging process.