Print medium handling system including cockle springs to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing

摘要

A printer mechanism to control pen-to-print medium spacing during printing is described. The preferred embodiment of the mechanism includes a printhead and an adjacent platen. The platen includes differentially yieldable structure adapted to resiliently support the print medium thereby to inhibit uncontrolled bending of the print medium during printing. The yieldable structure preferably extend along a line generally perpendicular to a direction of feed of the print medium. The platen may further include a transition region located adjacent the yieldable structure, the transition region adapted to facilitate smooth transition of the leading edge of the print medium onto the yieldable structure.