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US006786658B2
(12) United States Patent (io) Patent No.: US 6,786,658 B2
Silverbrook (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 7,2004
(54) PRINTER FOR ACCOMMODATING VARYING PAGE THICKNESSES
(75) Inventor: Kia Silverbrook, Balmain (AU)
(73) Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty. Ltd.,
Balmain (AU)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 1 day.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/291,400
(22) Filed: Nov. 12, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2003/0091375 Al May 15, 2003
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. 09/575,111, filed on May 23, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,488,422.
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5,757,398 A * 5/1998 Anderson 347/32
5,806,992 A 9/1998 Ju
5,929,877 A 7/1999 Hetzer et al.
6,102,509 A 8/2000 Olson
6,123,260 A * 9/2000 Menzenski 235/449
6,172,691 Bl 1/2001 Belon et al.
6,259,808 Bl * 7/2001 Martinez et al 382/139
6,318,920 Bl * 11/2001 Silverbrook 400/653
6,398,330 Bl 6/2002 Chua et al.
6,488,422 Bl * 12/2002 Silverbrook 400/56
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
EP 336870 10/1989
EP 566540 10/1993
JP 08 324065 12/1996
JP 09141858 6/1997
JP 10264390 10/1998
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Andrew H. Hirshfeld
Assistant Examiner—Kevin D. Williams
(57) ABSTRACT
A pagewidth drop on demand printer includes a printhead having an array of fixed printing nozzles thereon. A platen having a platen surface upon which a sheet rides to receive ink from the printing nozzles is situated alongside the nozzles. A sensor is provided to measure an offset of the print surface of the sheet with respect to the printing nozzles and means is provided effecting movement of the platen to alter the offset. This is typically done by making a compensatory rotation of the platen.
8 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
