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. 09, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1999
Fernando Juan, Barcelona, ES;
Jorge Menendez, Barcelona, ES;
Xavier Gros, Barcelona, ES;
Josep Miquel Canal, Barcelona, ES;
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A hardcopy apparatus includes a media holddown unit, having a platen, and a vacuum source for generating negative pressure on a medium positioned on said platen to keep it flat on said platen. The unit includes at least two vacuum chambers, both in air communication with the vacuum source. Each of the vacuum chambers can apply a negative pressure to a different portion of the medium positioned on a corresponding different region of the platen. A method for holding down a medium when placed on said platen. First the vacuum source is placed into independent air communication with a number of distinct regions of the platen, then the medium is positioned to cover one or more regions of the platen, and finally a negative pressure is applied to the back of the medium via the independent air communication.